AFTER claims of bullying at a GP surgery in Tetbury, deputy town mayor Kevin Painter is planning to start an action group to address the issue.

A town meeting on November 16 heard that senior doctor Katharina Nehrig was being "forced out" of the Romney House practice in Long Street.

Cllr Painter proposed setting up a positive action group to tackle the alleged problem during a Tetbury Town Council meeting last Monday, November 28. He said that the group would be independent of the town council but would include councillors.

“We owe it to our people," Cllr Painter said. "I understand there are some concerns as to how the council can be involved in this, but it is a big, big problem, it really is.”

But Cllr Sandra Ball replied: “I do not feel it is something we can involve ourselves in. I do not think it is something we can deal with.”

Cllr Colin Pearce said the council should be calling for the establishment of another GP surgery in the town.

“It is something we should be pushing on the grounds that there is a problem in this town," he said.

"Even if we cannot solve the problem, we should be pushing hard for an alternative surgery if we can.”

Retired doctor Cllr Tony Walsh advised that campaigning for a second practice could be difficult.

In response, Cllr Painter said: “We should have a committee that looks at health matters in general.

“It is 100 per cent wrong that the council cannot support the town's folk in this matter.”

Town mayor Cllr Stephen Hirst said that an investigation regarding the alleged bullying was ongoing and that the council would have to wait for the findings before any action was taken.

He said: “However, that does not stop the council supporting the setting up of an action group to study many more facilities in Tetbury. We welcome that.”

After Dr Nehrig announced she was leaving Romney House, a residents' petition was launched to call for action to address any issues at the surgery. There are more than 600 signatures so far.