GPs surgery battle may go to court.

Byline: By Guy Basnett

Families campaigning to save their local doctors' surgery last night signalled they may take their fight to court if they fail to gain the verdict they need.

A decision is expected today wed on the long-running dispute over the future of the Encompass Surgery in Washington, which is set to be sold off.

Patients reacted angrily after learning the practice may be put out to tender and taken over by a private firm despite the present GP asking to take it over.

Dr Ashley Liston has been credited with transforming the surgery from not being able to attract a doctor to now being used as a practice for staff training.

He and his colleague, Dr Tracey Lucas, applied to take control of the surgery, but Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) is looking at allowing bids.

Encompass Patients' Forum member Elizabeth Lowrey, 61, of Fatfield Park, Washington, said: "We will not stop fighting this, not after we've come this far. For years we had locum doctors, but now we have a practice where patients know their doctor." A decision on whether the TCPT will advertise the site will be given today wed at a meeting of the trust's board, at Sunderland City Library, Fawcett Street.

It mirrors a case in Derbyshire, where a patient is challenging North Eastern Derbyshire Primary Care Trust in a High Court judicial review.

This is over a decision to allow United Health Europe to take over a surgery rather than a local GP. A verdict is expected later this week, which could again affect how the Encompass row progresses, but Ms Lowrey said campaigners would consider their own legal action.

"If we don't get the decision we want we would be prepared to take it to court," she said.

"Dr Liston and Dr Lucas have done so much for this practice, and being part of the forum I know there are big plans for the future of the practice. There is a group of more than 20 patients who are very much behind them."

Last night tue a Sunderland TCPT spokeswoman said no comment could be made before the decision.