A HIGH Court judge was expected to rule today on whether GP patients fighting the closure of their surgery have a case - but it now appears the decision will come later.

One patient of Deer Park Medical Centre in Witney is attempting to trigger a judicial review of Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s decision to close the facility.

The challenge, which alleges the CCG did not offer a proper consultation, would halt the process of closure until a decision is made in the courts.

The identity of the patient taking the action has not yet been revealed.

Documents were submitted to the High Court and the group campaiging to save the surgery said they were told they would hear the decision today.

But Judicial Office spokesman Russell Hayes told the Oxford Mail this morning that, though the application was still live, there were no hearings currently scheduled. 

Chairwoman of the centre’s patient forum Brenda Churchill previously said:"We’re hoping that if it does go to court and there is a judicial review we can take it right to the end.

"We want to set a precedent so that other patient forums will have a template to follow."

CCG spokeswoman Julia Stackhouse said: "We have been contacted by solicitors acting for a patient of Deer Park and received documents indicating that proceedings have been issued.

"To date we have not received the sealed proceedings from the court confirming this."

The 4,400 patients registered at Deer Park will have to find an alternative surgery by March 2017.

The CCG said in September it had been forced to close the surgery because, when it put the service out to tender, no one came forward with a business plan that met its standards.

Ms Stackhouse continued: "Our main priority is to work with the patients to ensure that they have continued access to local GP services.

"There will be capacity for all Deer Park patients to register with one of the nine alternative practices available in Witney and West Oxfordshire when the practice closes next March.

"The three Witney town practices will be able to take on the majority of patients once they have are recruited more staff. Patients who do not wish to join one of the Witney practices or who live outside their catchment area will be able to register with at least one of six other practices in their local area, all of which have open lists."