COMMUNITY health watchdogs are opposing plans to close a Newport branch surgery.

Patients are protesting strongly over the plan by Beechwood Surgery to shut down its Stow Hill branch above an optician's shop in the Handpost area.

And yesterday, Newport area committee of Gwent Community Health Council unanimously agr-eed to oppose the closure.

Doctors at the Beechwood practice in Chepstow Road said they wanted to shut the branch surgery - where a doctor holds consultations four mornings a week - because the premises are inadequate and there are concerns over safety.

If it closes patients will either have to transfer to the main surgery on the other side of the city or transfer to another practice.

More than 100 people who attended a public meeting were all against the proposal and more than 60 per cent of patients who were consulted by the CHC objected.

William Copeland, owner of the Handpost Pharmacy, also contacted the CHC about the affect it would have on his business and believed it could even cease trading.

He said he had at least 1,000 patients of the Beechwood Surgery on his database who lived locally.

"This is an area with a lot of elderly people," said chairman Alan Griffiths. "This is a community that needs to be looked after, and health provision is a vital aspect of that."

Councillor Ray Truman said: "We should support the residents. They need this service, they need a surgery and they need a chemist. A chemist is the lifeblood of a community, particularly in that area."

One of the doctors, Jackie Abbey, said: "I feel patients will get a much better standard of service in Beech-wood Surgery, where they will have access to different members of the teams and the standard of health care will be higher."

The public, who, together with Newport West AM Rosemary Butler, listened to yesterday's discussion, were pleased with the CHC's support but have to wait until September 22 when the local health board makes its decision on the proposal.