David Ruffley will attend and speak at the public meeting arranged by Suffolk West Primary Care Trust on Friday, 18 July at 6.00 p.m. at Moreton Hall Community Centre.

The meeting has been called to allow members of the public to express their views about the provision of general practitioner services in the area. The meeting will be an open forum to decide upon the criteria upon which the forthcoming consultation is to be based.

Suffolk West PCT will be represented by: Mrs Joanna Spicer (Chairman), Tony Ranzetta (Chief Executive), Mark Crawley (Director of Modernisation) and John Hurlston (Head of Primary Care). Caroline Hayden-Wright, an independent consultant will also be attending.

David said: 'It is shocking that Thurston, the fastest growing village in the Bury St Edmunds area, still does not have its own GP services. My Thurston constituents have to travel to see a doctor and this is unacceptable. I have lobbied the West Suffolk PCT since its creation and before that the old Suffolk Health Authority. By personally attending and speaking at this meeting on Friday to reiterate my views to the PCT I hope to move this matter forward. I know how strongly my constituents feel about this lack of GP provision because of the large number of Thurston residents who have contacted me.'