A HEALTH trust decided not to tell patients in Bushey Heath that a practice set up to cover the closure of the Heath Surgery may only exist for six months.

The Radlett-based Red House Group, will open a branch in Little Bushey Lane, next month, to look after the 2,500 patients of Dr Simon Cats when he retires.

But the surgery has only been engaged by Hertsmere Primary Care Trust (PCT) on an interim contract.

The group saw off competition from eight other organisations, to gain selection by the PCT, in phase one of the contract letting process.

This phase aimed to ensure the care of the patients for the first six months, following Dr Cats' departure.

To continue caring for Dr Cats' patients beyond April, the group must submit another winning bid during phase two.

At a meeting on Tuesday, September 6, held by the PCT to inform patients of the new arrangements, no mention was made to the patients of the two phase process.

Also, no mention was made of the fact that in six months time, the list could be taken away from the Red House Group and transferred to another organisation.

Director of primary care at the trust, Susanne Novak, said: "The decision not to tell the patients was really us trying not to raise anxiety levels.

"We can overload people with information; it's very important that we give people easy, straightforward advice.

"Telling them would unnecessarily raise anxieties.

"We never said how long the Red House group would be caring for patients".

For full story, see today's printed version of the Watford Observer.