THE NHS this week denied rumours about the withdrawal of some services at town GP surgeries.

Bordon resident and patient of the Forest Surgery Amy Jordan said she was “very angry” after she was told by staff that she may have to head to Basingstoke for blood-related services (phlebotomy).

However, despite some confusion and misinformation on the ground, the NHS refuted the claims, saying the service would continue to be provided at the Badgerswood and Forest Surgeries in Headley’s Mill Lane and Bordon’s Forest Road respectively.

Ms Jordan requires regular blood tests due to her medication and claimed that, at a recent appointment, she was told the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust was “deciding whether or not to continue taking blood at the surgery due to cutbacks”.

“I was told by the surgery that patients will have to go to Basingstoke for blood tests if this goes ahead,” she added.

“I wasn’t sure whether to wait until I had found out that the decision had been made before I mentioned this news, but I couldn’t - I am so angry.

“I thought Bordon was supposed to be moving forwards not backwards, and it is shocking that you can have a doctor’s surgery that can not take blood.

“This, if it goes ahead, will affect a lot of people, a lot of sick and elderly people, who really do not need the stress of having to find the money and transport to get to Basingstoke.

“I am lucky. I am mobile and work full time, but I can not find the time to go to Basingstoke for blood tests. It is ridiculous.”

While still being treated at the Forest Surgery, Ms Jordan said there was still some confusion among patients.

“My neighbour asked the receptionist at Forest Surgery and she told her the phlebotomy services were being reviewed on a monthly basis by the Care Quality Commission. She said the surgery would have to find alternative clinics for patients and the worst case scenario would be Basingstoke,” she said.

This, she added, was a “slightly different” story to the one she was told - painting an apparent picture of disarray.

However, Tina Hack, deputy manager at the Forest Surgery, said that phlebotomy services were not in any immediate danger and said that she was confused about why people might think otherwise.

“We are continuing to provide the service and, as far as I know, that won’t change,” she said. “No one has told me any different.”

But she said that concerns about service provision and rumours about changes were commonplace. “We get it all the time,” she added.

Mark Wingham, speaking on behalf of the NHS South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, also set the record straight and said the fears were unfounded.

“Phlebotomy services continue to be available to patients of the Badgerswood and Forest Surgeries at the surgeries through an arrangement with the Southern Health NHS Trust,” he said.

“This follows a review of GP-provided phlebotomy three years ago.”

Health provision is an area of concern for some residents of Whitehill and Bordon, exacerbated by the alterations at the town’s Chase Hospital, which have run into obstacles in recent years.

Also, the recent announcement of the impending closure of the Woolmer Surgery, in Forest Road, following GP recruitment difficulties, may further fuel apparent uncertainty and fears that things might get worse before they get better.

For many it seems the top-of-the-range health campus, which East Hampshire District Council has guaranteed will be delivered as part of Whitehill and Bordon’s regeneration, can not come soon enough.