RESIDENTS and campaigners packed out Burnham Village Hall in a bid to keep the town’s surgery in its current site.
There are proposals to move Burnham-on-Crouch’s only NHS surgery to the controversial Burnham Waters Retirement Village.
Critics claim the move would mean some patients would struggle to get to the new surgery.
An action group called Burnham Save Our Surgery has come together to oppose proposals to move the surgery.
The group organised the full capacity meeting, which took place on March 1, to give an update on the campaign and agree on the next steps.
They are also staging a protest event at NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board Meeting, which is planned for March 21 at 2pm.
At the latest meeting, Burnham Save Our Surgery action group called on residents and patients to join a peaceful protest outside the ICB meeting at Barleylands, Barleylands Road, Billericay.
They intend to demand cast-iron confirmation that the Burnham Surgery will stay at its current town centre location and hope to ensure access to healthcare services for all.
Rachel Iborall, a spokesman for Burnham Save Our Surgery action group, addressed the meeting at Burnham Village Hall.
She said: “Health bosses have been overwhelmed by the scale of local public opposition to the move.
“Thank you, Burnham. The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board has said that while so many people vehemently oppose the surgery relocation to Burnham Waters, it can’t go ahead.”
She added it was now time to “put on more pressure”.
Those at the meeting also heard that Burnham Town Council had voted to agree that every effort should be made to keep the Burnham Surgery at its current site.
Rachel said: ‘’We must stand together to keep Burnham Surgery in the heart of our community’.’
Bosses at Burnham Surgery previously addressed the reasons behind the proposed relocation.
A spokesman said the current surgery premises "do not meet current guidelines", in addition to having "inadequate space and facilities" for the site to meet NHS contract requirements.
They said a redesign of the site would "not meet future requirements".
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