A TEAM of Bridgwater doctors petitioning the Government against health service changes they fear will lead to the privatisation of the NHS has already won the backing of 500 patients.

The Mercury reported two weeks ago how the eight partner doctors at East Quay Medical Centre had launched a campaign against Government NHS reforms.

New rules from Westminster mean doctors' surgeries will be forced to open longer, with no extra funding. New patient health contracts have also criticised as the first step on the road to privatising UK health care.

The East Quay eight told the Mercury they feared the changes would lead to a decline in the quality of care on offer, longer waiting lists, and even the closure of some surgeries.

Since the campaign was first revealed in the Mercury, the doctors have been canvassing patients for support - and already some 500 have added their names to the petition in a bid to block the changes.

Dr Stephen Gardiner said: "Last week the Government briefly outlined the two possible impositions in the GPs - both remove significant funding from the practice.

"One imposes a national specification for extended hours which does not reflect any local population needs. The other gives the funding removed from the practices to the local PCT to fund extended hours, and encourages them to set up contracts with new providers to do this.

"Both options threaten the foundation of primary care."

The longer hours would effectively mean that the days of patients having a regular doctor who they visit would be over.

And another East Quay doctor, Alison Goldie, added: "As a patient myself, I know the thing I value most is having a doctor who knows me, my medical history and my personal circumstances.

"It means my doctor treats me as a person, not a patient.

"I am proud that I and my colleagues in general practice offer this kind of service. I am really concerned that this may not exist in the future if private organisations are offered contracts for general practice."