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Little Britney asks Santa to save surgery

Annette Lord
21/12/2007

AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl has written a heartfelt plea to Santa to help save a doctor's surgery.

Britney Cunniffe was so upset to hear that Dr Vites' surgery in Miles Platting might be forced to close that she put pen to paper to ask a higher authority to put his weight behind the cause.

A compulsory purchase order hangs over the surgery as part of the Miles Platting PFI regeneration plans, throwing its future into doubt. Practice manager Tony Smith wants to force a public inquiry and made a plea in last week's Advertiser asking surgery supporters to write to him objecting to the CPO going ahead.

Britney, a pupil at Abbott Community Primary School in Collyhurst, wrote: "I have already asked for my presents but I have one more thing I would like you to do. I like Dr Vites. He makes me laugh and gives me sweets and looks after us when we are poorly. Please help to save the surgery."

She and elder sister Jessica, 12, have been patients of Dr Vites all their lives and their 42-year-old mum Debbie has been a patient at the surgery since she was born.

From the family home in Kingham Drive, Ancoats, Debbie said: "We were actually at the surgery on Friday but didn't see the Advertiser until we got back. Britney asked what would happen if the surgery closed and I said we would have to find another doctor.

"They've only ever known him as their doctor and he is a really, really good doctor. I would like him to stay."

Dr Vites' surgery has been deluged with messages of support after its plight was featured in last week's Advertiser.

Practice manager Tony Smith said: "Dr Vites was reduced to tears on Friday night by some of the messages. It was supporting letters he didn't expect. It was a really nice show of support.

"It was very moving to see the wave of support which came through the day, and on Monday and Tuesday as well."

One of Dr Vites' patients worried that he may move from the area contacted the Advertiser to add her voice to the campaign to save the surgery.

Joan Lowe, 63, of Victoria Square, said: "I don't want Dr Vites to go. He has been my doctor for seven years and he has done a lot for me. I have a bad heart and epilepsy and am going blind with cataracts.

"Dr Vites is lovely, he is the best doctor there is. I would be heartbroken if he goes."