CAMPAIGNERS who fought to save a GP surgery from closure gathered for one final demonstration as the practice closed its doors for the last time.

The Willows surgery in Bevendean is one of four practices to shut in Brighton and Hove by the end of the year.

Patients and members of Sussex Defend the NHS stage a protest outside the surgery in Heath Hill Avenue on Friday afternoon.

It was announced in January the Practice Group, which ran five surgeries in Brighton and Hove, was pulling out of its contract.

It said the move was because of a potential reduction in funding as well as staffing problems.

NHS England worked with the city’s clinical commissioning group and council to find a solution to provide health services for the 11,500 patients affected.

It was decided to close the practices and disperse patients to other surgeries.

Brighton Homeless Homecare in Morley Street is set to continue under a new contract next year.

A petition set up by friends Linda Game and Mitch Alexander earlier this year calling for a surgery to be kept at The Willows was signed by more than 1,300, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Ms Game, 52, said: “I am just so upset to see it closed. It was just around the corner and I took my parents there regularly.

“The staff there were lovely and knew all about my family. It is very sad.”

Most patients have been transferred to the Church Surgery in Lewes Road, which is a mile-and-half away.

Ms Game said: “It will mean a drive for me while others will have to get a bus. It is too far for most people to walk.

“There is work being done to provide some sort of community transport service for people who struggle to get out but it is still not ideal.

“Mothers with prams and young children will also find it more difficult. Patients feel very depressed and feel like Bevendean is a forgotten community.”

NHS England said the surgery building was privately owned and the landlord was taking back ownership.

The authority contacted other local GP practices to find out if any of them would wish to open a branch surgery but nobody came forward and so the 1,900 patients on the list were transferred.

The practices in Boots and Hangleton Manor have already shut and Whitehawk will close at the end of November.