A patients group said they fear for the future of an Accrington GP practice after the service was placed under review.

Questionnaires have been sent out to all 1,721 patients who use the centre at Accrington Victoria Hospital with the service contract set to expire at the end of October.

NHS bosses said they are carrying out a ‘standard’ review and no decision has been made over its future.

However, one of the options on the table for consideration is full closure.

Ian Baron, of the centre’s Patients Participation Group, said they were ‘deeply concerned’ and they have written to NHS England about the situation.

The 70-year-old, from Accrington, said: “We are definitely going to fight any battle and if necessary we will go through the courts. I will chain myself to the radiator inside if need be.

The services here are fantastic and we live only about eight minutes away so it’s ideal for us.”

Patrick McGinley, also of the Patients Participation Group, said everyone at the GP surgery has been led to the ‘inescapable conclusion’ that the surgery will be closed down.

He has also criticised health bosses for not giving enough time for patients to reply to the survey with responses due back by Wednesday, February 19.

Mr McGinley, 62, of Whalley Road, Great Harwood, said: “My very, very strong belief is they are going to close it. Ours is the best in the area for out of hours service, weekends and shorter waiting times.

“If they are not going to close it then why not tell us that?

“What we need now is a clear, accurate public statement about what’s going to happen.”

Social enterprise group East Lancashire Medical Service were awarded the alternative provider medical services contract to run the GP practice back in November 2009.

Amanda Trayford, GP practice manager, said: “The contract is up for review as it ends on October 31 so they are looking at all the options of what they can do. That includes whether to keep it open, re-tender it out the same as before or change it. I don’t know what’s going to happen and I wouldn’t want to say.

We just need an answer.“

She added: “If they did close it they would have to redistribute all the patients but they would have to look at capacity and what GPs can take.”

Deputy council leader Clare Pritchard said she would be ‘vehemently opposed’ to any closure of services at the hospital.

She said: “I think what’s disturbing is a lot of people went to that GP surgery because they weren’t able to get an appointment with their own GP. It does concern me about what would happen if it was moved out. What will happen to the patients as other GPs are running at capacity? They have also done a £250,000 refurbishment recently so why would they waste that money if they are going to move out? It makes no sense.”

Tory councillor Peter Britcliffe said the surgery should remain as long as it is value for money.

He said: “We are happy to add our voice as with 1,700 patients it’s obviously worthwhile keeping it open. We will support it in any way we can providing it’s giving value for money.”

NHS England Lancashire area team said they are ‘actively seeking’ views of patients to help inform their decision.

A spokesman said: “No decision has yet been made about what will happen, but patients can be reassured that their views will be taken into consideration in any decision taken by NHS England.

“Once a decision has been made, we will continue to engage with patients to advise them of the decision and what this will mean for them.”

The patient walk-in centre at the same hospital has also been placed under review with a decision over its future deferred until next month.