Campaigners are still waiting to learn if a village with a population of more than 6,000 will lose its only GP surgery.

A large number of new homes are due to be built in the Marchwood area, raising fears that the number of residents will rise by 30 per cent.

But Dibden Purlieu-based Forestside Medical Practice is seeking consent to close its Marchwood branch after being hit by the national shortage of GPs.

The move has angered Marchwood residents who have to rely on public transport to get to medical appointments.

Dibden Purlieu-based Forestside Medical Practice is seeking consent to close its Marchwood branchDibden Purlieu-based Forestside Medical Practice is seeking consent to close its Marchwood branch (Image: Newsquest)

Last year Emma Cooke, who suffers from epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, launched an online petition in a bid to save the facility.

Miss Cooke said a trip to the Dibden Purlieu site meant catching two buses, resulting in a long and time-consuming round trip.

She said: "For me and many others in our community, the local GP practice is not just a medical facility, it is a lifeline.

"The proposed closure threatens to leave us without immediate access to vital health services - an unacceptable prospect."

Plans to close the Forestside surgery in Marchwood are still under reviewPlans to close the Forestside surgery in Marchwood are still under review (Image: Newsquest)

A public consultation was conducted almost a year ago by Forestside and the local Integrated Care Board.

Now Marchwood councillor Richard Young has confirmed that the future of the surgery is still under review.

READ MORE: Anger over proposal to axe only GP surgery in village with more than 6,000 residents

Posting on social media, Cllr Young listed the reasons why he is fighting to save the facility.

He said: "Dibden Purlieu is not easily accessible from Marchwood via public transport. This proposal disproportionately impacts those patients who do not drive including the young, elderly, and disabled.

"Marchwood is a community of over 6,000 residents and growing, with two strategic housing sites in the village potentially being developed in the near future.

"This could eventually add in the region of 30 per cent to our existing population. To not have a GP surgery operating within a community of that size with an increased elderly local population is plainly not prioritising the health needs of our local populous."

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Cllr Young sought to discover the outcome of the consultation and has now received a response from Forestside.

The practice said: "All the information gathered during the consultation process was fed back to the commissioners as part of Forestside's proposal.

"Unfortunately, the original panel hearing for the proposal was postponed and subsequently, due to the reorganisation of the ICB, the proposal was further delayed and has not been heard yet.

"There is no decision yet as Forestside are still waiting for the process with the ICB to run its course."