CONCERN has been expressed over the number of new GP patients likely to arise from a massive new housing development planned for Wellington, as well as the impact of an aging population.

Questions on the issue were raised at Wellington Medical Centre’s Patients Participation Group (PPG) annual meeting.

Practice manager Lydia Daniel-Baker told the PPG the surgery had not been consulted over proposed new housing estates.

Ms Daniel-Baker said if the practice was to close its patient list as a result it could affect some of the services it provided.

She said already there were occasions recently when afternoon telephone callers received a message to say the surgery had reached full capacity and the 111 line should be used if it was urgent.

This was because the doctors could not physically take any more calls as they had reached saturation level.

However, Ms Daniel-Baker said on those days, all calls received were triaged.

The PPG heard doctors now had lead roles for the elderly, while health care assistants were trained to carry out regular checks and there was back-up from a diabetic nurse.

Ms Daniel-Baker thanked the PPG members for all their help, especially with flu clinics which could not run without them.

The PPG recently funded new car park signage clearly marking disabled and parent and child bays, and a 5 mph speed limit, which it was hoped patients would follow.

Election of officers: Chairman Veronica Tatnall, vice-chairman John Cutting, treasurer Ann Cowling, secretary left vacant, fund-raising Janet Govier, press officer Veronica Tatnall.