HEALTH chiefs have approved plans to close a city centre surgery.

But they have insisted on a phased withdrawal over six months of services from St Margaret's surgery, Crossgate, in Durham.

Patients have been reassured they will not be left without a GP.

Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust is hoping the site could house another medical service.

The Chastleton Medical Group, which also has a surgery at Framwellgate Moor, says it has had to close St Margaret's because it has been hit by the national GP shortage.

The group has lost four doctors recently but has been unable to find replacements, despite an advertising cam- paign. This had left four doctors to care for 14,400 patients between the two surgeries.

Durham Community Health Council, the area's health watchdog, received no complaints from patients and did not oppose the closure.

A trust spokeswoman said it would continue to work with the Chastleton Medical Group to minimise disruption to patients.

"The practice currently has no plans to reduce the number of patients on its list and will be working with the trust to ensure all patients have access to a GP," said the spokeswoman.

"Patients who use the St Margaret's surgery will be able to access services from Chastleton surgery, Fram-wellgate Moor.

"Transport issues and prescription collection will also be looked at over the coming months."

The spokeswoman said it was too early to say whether the building could be saved for GP services or some other form of primary care.

A report to the trust said most of the patients consulted were sad about the surgery's closure.

The majority of criticisms about the move related to transport problems elderly patients could face of they transfer to Chastleton surgery.

"Several patients queried whether the practice had adequately tried to recruit," said the report.

"Several commented that they were surprised by the recruitment problems that they thought were confined to inner city areas."