WORRIED patients fear they could lose their village surgery because their doctor is being forced to retire after 32 years. More than 750 villagers have signed a petition in a bid to prevent Dr Pam Kenny from leaving the Haddenham and Stretham practices to

WORRIED patients fear they could lose their village surgery because their doctor is being forced to retire after 32 years.

More than 750 villagers have signed a petition in a bid to prevent Dr Pam Kenny from leaving the Haddenham and Stretham practices today (Thursday).

She wants to stay on part-time, but, under the terms of her legal partnership contract ,she must leave at the age of 60.

Dr Kenny founded the Stretham surgery and owns the building and fears the partnership has no plans to continue that part of the service.

If it were closed down, villagers would be forced to travel to Haddenham, leaving the disabled and elderly facing problems as there is no bus service running between the villages.

"I have not been able to get any satisfactory responses to questions about its future and my impression has been that they no longer plan to include the Stretham surgery," she told the Ely Standard. "If that is the case patients will have to travel to Haddenham and there is no bus service between the villages."

Dr Kenny, who also sits on the committee of the emergency doctors' service MAGPAS, had hoped to work one day a week at the Stretham surgery and offer holiday relief cover at the Haddenham practice.

But her business partners have ruled out the possibility of her staying on and are looking for a new member of the team.

"I really felt I had something to offer the patients," she added. "I have no interest in the running of the practice. I only wanted to look after patients and handle referrals.

"I want to give patients the choice that I think they deserve. It is clear that choice is a particular part of the current NHS, but obviously that is not the case here.

"I would like to think that the practice would take notice of public concerns and reconsider its position in terms of its patients."

Copies of the petition were handed into Haddenham Surgery and to Audrey Bradford, chief executive of the East Cambridgeshire and Fenland Primary Care Trust on Tuesday.

One of Dr Kenny's patients, Brian Allen, 59, of Lode Way, Haddenham, said: "She is a very good doctor and has done so much for the village. More than 50 per cent of the villagers want her to stay."

Haddenham parish and district councillor, Pauline Wilson, said: "Dr Kenny has saved many lives and patients tell many heart-rending stories of how they have been helped.

"We have an experienced doctor in the village, who patients really respect and she is willing to continue part-time. Why can she not continue to practise?"

Dr Jan Aniskowicz, partner in Haddenham Surgery, said: "Stretham surgery will continue. The partnership intends to recruit a female partner and offer a comprehensive service to all who require it. The practice will be developed according to the needs of its patients.

"We all wish Dr Kenny well in the future.