MIDDLEWICH is facing a potential crisis as patient lists are closing, while the population continues to grow.

The Acorns Medical Centre, in Wheelock Street, had one of the fastest growing patient lists in Mid Cheshire but has now been forced to stop taking on new patients.

Dr Peter Curbishley said a shortage of reception staff, the introduction of new technology, long hours and surgery management commitments are putting a huge strain on his non-medical staff, particularly with a 10 per cent increase in the number of patients every year.

Now he has been forced to close his lists because the staff cannot cope with the extra workload of taking on new patients and funds are not forthcoming for more staff.

He said: "The PCG decided they were going to distribute their staff money based on list sizes alone, which means the smaller practices have lost out.

"We cannot cope with the workload passed on to us in the admin side with the present level of funding.

"We have worked incredibly hard to build up a practice that patients think well of and we are held in high regard in the town, and we provide an excellent service for our patients. But despite all this we have got to deny this service to people moving into Middlewich."

Town Councillor Alison Roylance-White is concerned about the whole town being unable to cope with the rapid population growth.

She said: "It really is a problem, the huge number of people flooding into Middlewich is putting enormous strains on the infrastructure."

At the South Cheshire Health Authority meeting on Friday, Gary Lucking, Director of Primary Care Service and Development, promised funding is flowing through the Primary Care groups and will be allocated where it is most needed.

Speaking to the Guardian, Jane Branson, Chief Executive of Mid Cheshire Primary Care Group said: "The public will not be left without a GP, the health authority would allocate the patients to a practice accordingly, and if you live in Middlewich you will have a GP in Middlewich.

"But if the situation became very difficult we would have to look at other alternatives," she added.

But Dr Curbishley and Clr Roylance-White are dissatisfied with the response.

Dr Curbishley said: "What it boils down to is when are they going to come up with the funding?"

Both will now meet with Jane Branson and Jean French of Central Cheshire Community Health Council to discuss the problem.