ELDERLY patients have been left in limbo after the death knell was finally sounded for a village surgery.

After two years of uncertainty, health chiefs yesterday insisted there would be no re-think over plans to close Southwick Surgery run by Wickham Practice.

None of the 393 registered patients at the one-morning-a-week surgery have been told what will happen after it shuts in two months' time.

Health bosses have still not finalised plans on transporting patients to Wickham Practice or issuing repeat prescriptions.

Six weeks after Mid Hampshire NHS Primary Care Trust first made the shock announcement health bosses have yet to put up a notice on the front door warning of the closure or send out letters to patients.

Karen Ashton, who sits on the trust board, admitted the closure of the surgery had been "a learning curve".

"Hopefully we can use the experience to improve the way we do this sort of thing in the future."

She said talks were still on-going about the possibility of volunteer drivers from the Wickham Care Group taking patients to Wickham Practice where appointments would be reserved for them one morning a week.

Health chiefs are still trying to find a safe solution to get medication to the elderly in Southwick who have repeat prescriptions.

The trust is drafting a letter to send out to patients registered at the surgery.

Southwick Parish Council chairman June Bazalgette said: "We have all been left completely in the dark about what is going on.

"We do have some concerns about block-booking arrangements as that would limit patients' choice of doctor.

"The council is also concerned about volunteers being responsible for patient transport when the numbers needing to see a doctor can vary week to week.

"Southwick has one of the highest percentages of elderly pensioners aged over 80 in the area and they are going to feel abandoned.

"It is very sad that Southwick has had to close and be used as a learning curve for the trust."

Despite dozens of protest letters sent to the trust, Wickham Practice insists the numbers on its books are not enough to keep the surgery open.