PATIENTS of a Lowestoft dental surgery threatened with closure are taking their campaign to the boardroom of the primary care trust.Two petitions containing thousands of signatures have been sent to the chairman of NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney (NHS GY&W) in support of the High Street Dental Surgery.

PATIENTS of a Lowestoft dental surgery threatened with closure are taking their campaign to the boardroom of the primary care trust.

Two petitions containing thousands of signatures have been sent to the chairman of NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney (NHS GY&W) in support of the High Street Dental Surgery.

One petition, organised by the practice contains 3,304 signatures, while a second organised by the patients themselves has 1,750 names.

Both petitions have been sent to David Edwards, chairman of NHS GY&W, with copies to director of commissioning James Elliott and Waveney MP Bob Blizzard.

Under the PCT's standing orders it has to include the petitions it receives as an agenda item at the next board meeting.

The board meets again on Wednesday next week and patients hope the matter will be raised.

The surgery, run by Dr David Johnson, is currently in dispute with the PCT and the contract is to be put out to tender.

Mr Elliott said: 'We have already received the petition and will acknowledge its receipt during our public board meeting on October 21.

'This issue has been referred to an independent arbitrator and as such we cannot discuss the details in public. The board will therefore consider the matter during its private session, and will provide feedback to patients after the meeting.

'I would like to take this opportunity to again reassure all of the patients registered with the High Street Dental Practice that whatever the outcome of the current contractual process, they will continue to receive to top quality NHS dental care locally.'