DOCTORS' surgeries in Clay Country could be forced to close – sending thousands of patients on a gruelling trek for treatment when they are ill.

Pharmacists have warned government plans to stop GPs dispensing medicine from their surgeries would cause disruption for the 12,000 patients who use the Brannel Surgery in St Stephen and at the Clay Practices in St Dennis, Roche and Bugle.

And managers at the Clay Practices say without funding from the dispensaries two of their branches may have to shut.

Judith Kurth, manager at the Clay Practices, said: "If we lose dispensing rates then we would have to look at whether we can continue to fund the opening of our two branch sites in St Dennis and Bugle.

"People might end up without surgeries if the services are forced to be cut completely, which is not something we want to do."

If the dispensaries are closed villagers would face a long trip for medication to chemists in St Dennis or St Austell.

Alex Dyer, 82, has leukaemia and his wife, Verna, 73, suffers with heart problems; between them they take 12 pills of medication a day.

They live in St Stephen, fetch their medication from the dispensary at the surgery and are incensed by the plans.

Mr Dyer said: "It will take at least an hour to get to St Austell and come back again for our pills, and include waiting around in the cold for a bus, which my wife can't do.

"It is an inconvenience and we are not physically fit enough to do the trip to town.

"Around here people can hardly struggle to get up to the surgery; they are invalid, ill and aged. Sending them to St Austell for medication is absolutely ridiculous."

Bosses at the Brannel Surgery have emphasised the doctor service there would not be threatened if their dispensary is closed.

Manager Liz Cox said: "This would really hit the elderly and disabled the hardest.

"We have a very far flung area as many rural GPs do. People do a 16-mile round trip from places like Mitchell; they could have to travel even further to pick up their medication.

"There is a very real danger that some GPs will lose their dispensaries."

The legislation currently allows GPs to dispense to people who live more than a mile away from a chemist.

The new government white paper on pharmacies recommends that this is changed to "increase choice".

But Mrs Kurth said: "What people want is something which is convenient for them, not the choice of going to three different chemists which are all at least five miles away."

They are asking patients to write moving letters to the Government about how the changes will affect their lives to try to stop the plans going through.

The consultation closes on Thursday, November 20. People are being encouraged to write to Gillian Farnsfield, Department of Health, Medicines and Pharmacy Industry Group, Area 453D, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London, SE1 6LH or email PWPCONS@dh.gsi.gov.uk