A consultation over the future of a Dereham GP practice under threat of closure has been slammed by a councillor and patients at a town hall meeting. 

The meeting at Dereham Memorial Hall on Wednesday night saw 150 people turn up to voice their concerns over the possible closure of Toftwood Medical Centre.

Some criticised NHS bosses for a lack of honesty in their consultation period after they announced in October they were considering closing the surgery.

150 people turned up to the evet at Dereham Memorial Hall150 people turned up to the event at Dereham Memorial Hall (Image: Newsquest) Sarah Taylor, Toftwood councillor, said NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB's approach to the consultation has been "disingenuous". 

Ms Taylor said: "We want more services in our town, not less.

"I'm disappointed to have this consultation because it feels like it hasn't had the candour of the challenges the NHS is facing." 

Sarah Taylor called the consultation disingenuousSarah Taylor called the consultation disingenuous (Image: Labour Party) If the closure goes ahead, NHS bosses plan to divide the 4,000 patients at Toftwood between Orchard Surgery and Theatre Royal Surgery.

This raised further concerns about capacity at these practices. 

One woman at the meeting said she was "scared flaming rotten". 

She addedL "I'm a patient at Orchard Surgery and I can't get an appointment unless I know I'm going to need it three weeks beforehand."

NHS bosses pin down the reasons for their proposal to a looming expiration date in a contract it has with the practice's service, as well as not being able to finalise a new lease with the landlady.

The contract with the surgery is expected to expire at the end of March 2025The contract with the surgery is expected to expire at the end of March 2025 (Image: Google Maps) They are expected to have a meeting with the landlady and Mid Norfolk MP, George Freeman, next week, which they say they will "go into with an open mind".

But others questioned whether the decision was already a done deal. 

One person said the ICB's strategy "seems to be carefully engineered".

He said: "If it is a done deal, which all evidence leads me to believe it is, then what are we doing here?" 

Mark Burgis, the executive director for patients and communities, argued the decision was "absolutely not a done deal" and that the healthcare body was "listening seriously to these concerns". 

The consultation period ends on November 21 and the ICB's report and recommendations will be available on December 3.