Southern Borehamwood's only doctor's surgery will close in November and all remaining patients will move TO The Grove Medical Centre, it was announced this week.

Following a reduction in demand for appointments at the Manor Way Surgery, the medical centre said it was taking the difficult decision' to withdraw the service.

Health bosses at the centre also claimed that the surgery in Manor Way does not meet the criteria laid out in the Disability Discrimination Act.

Concerns have also been expressed by the current GPs regarding infection control and confidentiality within the surgery. Dr Cathy Nicholson, from the Grove Medical Centre, said: "The decision to stop seeing patients at this branch surgery has not been taken lightly. We are very concerned that the condition of the building is now not conducive to patient safety and is also unable to sustain the high levels of healthcare that patients should expect to receive. We are also seeing more and more patients in our new, purpose-built main surgery as there are better facilities available for examinations and treatments."

Dr Nicholson added that the centre, which moved from Grove Road to Borehamwood Shopping Park, has also made the surgery more accessible, with buses running from the branch surgery area stopping directly outside the entrance in Shenley Road and in Theobald Street.

She said: "All of these issues have led us to believe that we can no longer justify the use of Manor Way as a branch surgery. After discussing our plans with Hertsmere Primary Care Trust (PCT), we will be withdrawing our service at the end of November when the lease is scheduled for renewal."

The Grove Medical Surgery has plans to write to all patients informing them of the changes.

Councillor Frank Ward, who has started a campaign to fight to keep the surgery open, said: "This is a shameful betrayal of the elderly and disabled who depend entirely on the only medical practice in southern Borehamwood. The atmosphere of duplicity that still hovers over this surgery completes this Machiavellian conspiracy which began in 2004.

"The continued chest beating' and chanting about the deficit is cold comfort to those whose only income of a state pension precludes the luxury of using taxis to visit their designated surgery in the boulevard."

Councillor Sandra Parnell said: "We're going to campaign for this until the bitter end."

The surgery came under threat of closure in December 2004 following the retirement of Dr Jennifer Spring.

But following an outcry from patients at a public meeting, Hertsmere PCT agreed to keep the surgery open.

More recently, the PCT said it could not confirm or deny reports that the surgery would be closing due to uncertainties bought about by its £12.3 million deficit.

Ken Wagner, from Featherstone Gardens, who has been using the surgery for 50 years, said: "It was inevitable. We always knew it was going to happen. They haven't even spared a thought for the hundreds of elderly and housebound residents who have had their surgery taken away.

"It's a total disgrace."

Robert Hillyard, vice chairman of Hertsmere Patients Forum, said: "If the people of southern Borehamwood want to save their surgery, they need to fight for it. That's the only way."

u Manor Way Dental Surgery will not be affected by any of these changes.