HEALTH bosses are to meet patients tonight to discuss the future of GP services in Great Clacton.

The Epping Close Surgery closed almost a year ago for repairs but never reopened its doors.

Patients are now forced to use a surgery in Kennedy Way instead.

Earlier this year, former councillor Peter Halliday claimed the surgery was being “closed by stealth”.

“A lot of patients are getting cheesed off because they don’t know what’s going on and if it is closing altogether,” he told the Gazette.

Health chiefs from ACE, which is responsible for local community health services, have met with the patients’ group for the surgery.

Malcolm Benjamin, of Fairlop Close, has already launched a petition calling for Epping Close to be reopened.

Almost 250 people have signed it in just over two weeks.

“A lot of them are elderly people who haven't got their own transport and are finding it difficult to get to Kennedy Way,” he said.

“It took one person two hours to get to there and another had to get a taxi, which cost him £8.”