A GP surgery has come under fire as patients say they have not been sent a letter being told of telephone prescriptions being cancelled.

The Unsworth Group Practice initially put out a Facebook post telling people that phone prescription services at the Blackrod Health Care centre, and Peter House Surgery in Westhoughton, would no longer be available after March 31 for elderly and bed-bound patients.

While the surgery said they would contact patients by telephone, email and letter, Hazel Bumby - whose elderly dad uses the surgery - says nobody has called or sent a letter regarding the changes.

Hazel said: “Most elderly cannot use apps do not have access to apps.”

"This whole not notifying patients by letter is ridiculous.

“They don't necessarily need to address the letters, just a mail shot of all their current patient addresses will be enough to explain to people who can't get it any other way.

“My gripe is that they are expecting that every elderly or housebound patient to have relatives or friends that will keep them informed.

“Some of them are not even capable of getting online, I know personally that this information is not getting through as my elderly father, he has received absolutely nothing from them.”

The Bolton News:

The GP surgery will also be merging phone lines between the practices after March 31.

Despite the concerns, the surgery posted a statement to their Facebook page, stating all patients would be contacted.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of the concerns which have been raised by our patients regarding the upcoming changes at the practice.

“We would like to reassure you that, as well as our social media updates, all patients affected by the discontinuation of our prescription line service have all been individually contacted by either text message or letter and we have been informing patients when ordering their medication via the prescription line.”

Patients can use the NHS app or they can choose to go to the surgery and post their prescription slips in a box.

Sophie Louise Blundell previously told The Bolton News that her grandma Susan Stone was with the parctice and would not be able to use an app.

The surgery has been contacted for a response.