Witham's residents fear the town’s healthcare is facing a crisis after the largest GP surgery closed its books for a year.

Fern House Surgery, in Newland Street, which treats 16,735 patients, will not accept newcomers until April after two doctors left.

Patients claim the wait for an appointment is “terrible”.

Samantha McNamara, of Greenwell Road, opted to deal with a broken toe herself after she tried to book an appointment for two hours with no success.

She said: “We have every right to have healthcare but it feels like it’s gently slipping away.”

See this week's Witham Times for the full story.