FEARS over the future of Addingham's medical services have been raised by the forthcoming loss of the practice nurse at the surgery of Doctor Eugene Raubitschek.

This latest worrying development, coupled with the long delays over the promised medical centre and the suggestion that the Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) could be scrapped altogether, have raised concerns that patients could be forced to travel outside Addingham to get GP treatment.

At a recent meeting, parish councillors began preparing themselves for a campaign for a replacement nurse.

Chairman Gordon Campbell said: "There is a notice in the surgery saying that the nurse might not be replaced."

He said he feared the move could be part of a money-saving exercise for the cash-strapped PCT. "It does not bode well - if we can't get a nurse, what chance have we got of getting a medical centre?"

Parish councillor Alan Jerome urged colleagues to investigate what had happened and find out why the surgery looked like losing the nurse.

He said: "If it is serious, we have got to go to the PCT and to Ann Cryer (Ilkley MP). We have got to make a lot of noise."

Parish councillor Sheila Hamilton said it was a decision which people would feel very emotional about.

Coun Campbell said: "We will do something about it."

After the meeting Cheryl Kirby, assistant director of community service of Airedale Primary Care Trust said: "We are aware that the practice nurse at the surgery in Addingham is leaving at Christmas. Managers at the PCT are currently exploring the best way of replacing her which meets the needs of patients and the staff at the practice."

Earlier this year it was reported that Airedale PCT could be £2.3 million over budget by the end of the financial year in March. Already there were plans implemented not to replace office staff who leave, in order to make savings and claw back some of the shortfall.

MP Ann Cryer has warned that health services in the area could deteriorate because of budget cuts and service delivery changes including privatisation. She warned that patients could suffer because of what she called the 'take-over' of Airedale PCT by Bradford North PCT.

Now a proposal to scrap all of the Bradford district's four PCTs has been put forward, just three years after they were created. Under the plans the trusts would be replaced by one organisation which would serve the entire district of Bradford and Airedale.

Plans for the new privately-funded Addingham medical centre were submitted to Keighley Town Hall four months ago. Councillor Campbell said it would be at least November before planning chiefs would be ready to consider it.

But it is common knowledge that Doctor Raubitschek is intending to retire. The loss of a doctor and a practice nurse in a short space of time could sound the death knell for medical services in a village where a large percentage of the population is elderly.