A rallying call has gone out to Gorleston residents to speak up for their doctors surgeries amid proposals to move them out of town.
Householders were urged to use their voice to lobby health bosses about plans to close three practices and relocate them to a new building at the James Paget University Hospital.
Under the proposals, which are being pushed forward by HealthEast - the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) - the Family Healthcare Centre, Falkland Surgery and Gorleston Medical Centre could be relocated to the hospital.
The move has sparked concern from patients who fear they will incur extra costs by having to travel to the Paget through parking and bus fees. And this week they were urged to speak up and have their say about the plans as a 13-week consultation draws nearer.
Speaking at Tuesday's Gorleston Area Committee meeting county councillor Colleen Walker said: 'You need to make a noise, it's you people that count. Councils are alright, they will listen to us to a certain degree but it's you the users, you're the ones who are going to have to make the noise and shout the loudest.'
Mrs Walker, who lives in Belton and is a patient at the Falklands surgery, thought the proposals were 'absolutely outrageous'.
'To get to the Falklands is hard enough as it is without having to get on a bus to go to the JPH or get in a car and pay,' she added. 'Those villages lost a surgery not too long ago and a chemist and now they're talking about the one we have got left.'
Her comments were echoed by borough councillors Bernard Williamson and Trevor Wainwright, who said it was important that everyone responds to the consultation when it opens.
Mr Williamson said: 'I have spoken to the chief executive of the CCG personally and we're approaching them as a borough council and will be airing our views, we're very very concerned at the loss of services in the local community.'
As well as taking part in the CCG consultation residents were urged to write directly to their surgeries about why they want them to stay in the town.
Bosses at the CCG have said they are working alongside the Family Healthcare Centre, Falkland Surgery and Gorleston Medical Centre to 'look at the possibility of relocating them'.
The CCG has said moving them to one building that was fit for purpose and could deal with an increasing population would improve services and bring health and social care closer together so patients could receive 'joined-up, seamless services'.
Speaking to the Mercury earlier this year Andrew Evans, chief executive of HealthEast, said: 'Everyone living in the area will be given the chance to comment on these proposals during a public consultation starting in June.
'We will be giving everyone the chance to have their say and play their part in shaping future services, and will send consultation documents to every household in Great Yarmouth and Waveney while also holding public meetings so that we can gather people's views.'
Anyone with questions during the pre-consultation, or has any views on subjects which should be included, can email gywccg.your-views-matter@nhs.net
Residents were also updated about progress to re-open the White Lion Steps during Tuesday's meeting. Mr Wainwright said the matter was still with solicitors but stressed it would be sorted.
The meeting also discussed problems in Bells Road with parking restriction signs being painted over, allowing motorists free reign to leave their cars for as long as they like. Some businesses expressed concern this could deter shoppers if they could not get a space. Mr Wainwright agreed to take the matter up with the county council, which is responsible for the signs.
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