PETITIONS HAVE been circulated around a Shropshire town calling for the reinstatement of a doctor who has not worked at a local surgery for three months.

Dr Adrian Penney is at the centre of a dispute with colleagues at Bishop’s Castle Medical Practice and is currently not at work.

Officials at Shropshire County Primary Care Trust have been called in to mediate.

But mystery surrounds the reasons behind the dispute, and officials at the surgery would only confirm that Dr Penney had not been formally suspended.

It comes as people in the town prepare to celebrate the official reopening of Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital, which has undergone a £1.3 million refurbishment in a project driven forward by Dr Penney.

Dr Penney helped raise more than £15,000 for the hospital refurbishment.

Today Dr Penney said: “There has been a dispute with the practice, and the primary care trust has been very supportive. I will be at the formal opening of the community hospital on April 12.”

Paula Middleton, who works at Gwyther’s shoe shop in the town, said petitions had been on display in a number of shops.

In a letter to the PCT, she said: “Members of many local families like ours have known Dr Penney all his life or all their own lives and appreciate his consistently strong commitment to local services. He has a reputation second to none, for supporting people in times of crisis whether on or off-duty, in particular the terminally-ill and the bereaved.”

Practice manager Cheryl Brierley said: “Bishop’s Castle Medical Practice would like to confirm that Dr Adrian Penney has not been suspended by the PCT. While the practice is in discussion with the PCT and Dr Penney, locum cover has been arranged to ensure that patients receive appropriate and timely care as necessary.”

A spokesperson for Shropshire County PCT said: “The PCT is aware of discussions going on between Dr Penney and the GP practice, and is having conversations with them to help make sure that patients have access to the services they need.”

By Peter Kitchen