Fears have been expressed that a new extended hours health centre in St Neots could see smaller practices put at risk.

However, Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is currently conducting a public consultation on whether to build a new seven day a week polyclinic in the town, said the plans were not about reducing services.

The nationwide petition called Support Your Surgery has been organised by the British Medical Association in response to Government plans to create 250 new clinics offering GP appointments, as well as treatments and tests normally only available in hospitals.

Rural surgeries are worried that it would lead to less services being offered by GPs, and even closure.

Doctor Simon Poole, chairman of Cambridgeshire Local Medical Committee, organised the 10-day petition within the county, including Huntingdonshire's 22 GP surgeries.

Dr Poole explained the effect of polyclinics on rural practices could be compared to that of large supermarket chains on High Street shops and said: "This Government has very much encouraged private companies to bid for contracts to provide GP services, and polyclinics are part of the story.

"But it's at the cost of investment into traditional general practices. I think it will be to the detriment of the patients and ultimately it will reduce choice, rather than increase it.

"Although the Government have claimed this will not result in the closure of GP surgeries, in the long term there will be an ultimate risk to practices everywhere.

"GPs run their own small practices with a vested interest in the community, but large private companies will not offer the same service.

"What we really want to do is make our Government aware that this intention of privatising some of GP's services really can't go on without a wide public debate."

Regarding the St Neots polyclinic, assistant director of Primary Care at Cambridgeshire PCT, Matthew Smith, said: "The emphasis of this public consultation is on improving access to good quality local services, not reducing them.

"I would encourage people with concerns or questions to contribute to the consultation."

For more information on Save Your Surgery visit www.saveyoursurgery.org.uk

>> The public consultation will run until Monday, July 21. Public meetings will be held at St Neots Football Club on Thursday, June 12, between 10am and 12pm, at St Mary's Church, Eaton Socon, on Monday, June 16, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and at The Priory Centre, St Neots, on Monday, June 23, between 10am and 12pm and Thursday, June 26, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
People can also respond to the consultation by visiting www.cambridgeshirepct.nhs.uk