THE campaign to keep a doctors’ surgery in Dedham has been described as a triumph for the village.

In 2002, villagers were threatened with the possible closure of their doctors’ surgery.

Residents, facing a five-mile journey on the A12 to East Bergholt for the next alternative, launched a vociferous campaign.

Thanks to a small band of villagers who made up the Dedham Vale Community Health Association, not only did they win – but Dedham's surgery has now secured its long-term future.

John Osborn, association company secretary and director, said: “The first news we had that the original surgery was to close was in 2002.

“It was administered by the Constable Country Medical Practice.

“They would have regular surgeries from a council property in Parsons Field. On the parish council we got wind they were going to reduce the number of hours and this was the start of a slippery slope to closure.”

A new surgery had just been built in East Bergholt and the intention was for Dedham patients to use that.

But this did not go down well. As opposition to the proposal swelled, coachloads of residents attended public meetings held by the South Suffolk Primary Care Trust.

The trust agreed to try to find a site, but then a conversation involving villager Dell Bower led to a sea change for the campaign.

Mr Bower, also a director of the association, said: “I knew of Colne Housing and happened to mention it to a lady from Colne Housing.”

Colne Housing agreed that if villagers could obtain the £200,000 funding, it would build the surgery.

However, it would be down to someone else to run it. And so the association, which until then had been a village steering group, was formed and part of the agreement was that it would have its own board of directors.

As well as Mr Osborn and Mr Bower, it included residents Eveline Baker and Christopher Garnett. The four would be the leaseholders.

That was 2006 and fundraising started – £145,000 came from the East of England Development Agency with another £20,000 from Colchester Council.

The shortfall has been paid off via a funding arrangement with Colne Housing. The building, named Dedham Vale Community Health Centre, opened in Manningtree Road in 2007.

But then came the next stumbling block – doctors. By 2009, despite efforts to find GPs to work there, the building was unused.

But then came another glimmer of hope. Mr Osborn continued: “Ardleigh surgery was looking at expanding. It seems this was the perfect fit for us. That July, the first GP surgeries were held here and have been continuous since.’’ Fred Merrin, practice manager at Ardleigh, agreed to also manage Dedham's surgery and clinics have been held four times a week.

He said: “50 per cent of patients in Dedham were registered with us and many had joined within the two years of the surgery not being used and didn’t want to go to East Bergholt. We were taking in more Dedham patients, but not having the scope to accommodate them.”

About 11,00 patients in the Dedham parish use either Dedham’s or Ardleigh’s surgeries.

Dedham’s surgery has four GPs, a nurse practitioner and a practice nurse. It has continued to run under its board of directors. However Mr Garnett, who was chairman, died earlier this year, aged 80.

The association has been funded during its tenure as leaseholders by NHS England.

Mr Osborn said: “We have been happily doing that since the practice started. Our job was to try to continue to provide GP services in Dedham and form a purpose-built building.

“It is time for us to bow out. We are re-assigning the lease. Our job is finished. This is a triumph of people from the village who came together and created something that nearly didn’t happen.”

The original 99-year, rent-free lease was re-assigned to Ardleigh Practice on May 1, while Colne Housing will continue as landlords.