HEALTH bosses at Somerset County Council have this week hit back at Bridgwater doctors who claim NHS reforms will threaten the future of the county's GP surgeries.

The Mercury has reported in recent weeks how Somerset's doctors - led by those at East Quay Medical Centre in Bridgwater - have been petitioning against new health legislation.

They have said that stretching surgery opening hours without extra funding, and tendering services to private firms would "threaten the very foundation of primary care".

In essence, the GPs warned they believe the changes could destroy the traditional doctor-patient relationship and pave the way for the privatisation of the NHS.

But this week, Somerset County Council's Health Scrutiny sub-committee discussed the matter and publicly declared: "GPs surgeries are NOT under threat."

Sub-committee chairman Cllr Stephen Martin-Scott said: "We heard from GPs and the primary care trust and, in a nutshell, learned that the ads placed recently by Somerset GPs were somewhat inaccurate: local GP practices are not under threat.

"We are served well by GPs in Somerset. The PCT recognises this and has committed to invest more each year in GP premises, helping to improve or expand a further 20 practices over the next five years."

Cllr Martin-Scott said the committee felt that the leaflets in doctor's surgeries declaring Your doctor's surgery could be forced to close' and Your GP service is under threat' should be immediately withdrawn.

Cllr Martin-Scott concluded: "Even the chairman of the GPs' Local Medical Committee confirmed that the literature given to patients was no longer an accurate reflection of the current situation in Somerset and that their advice to GPs was not to continue to issue them.

"This committee firmly believes Somerset's residents can now be re-assured that their GP practice is not under threat."