IT IS great to see commonsense has prevailed and GP surgeries in Wolvercote and Cutteslowe will remain open. The decision makes sense for patients and, in a climate of cutbacks, it will make sense financially.

The surgeries serve almost 1,500 people across the two communities and they made it clear the services were vital.

Elderly patients would have found it much more difficult to travel to the Summertown Health Centre, as would parents with young children.

At a time when health and care services across the county are stretched, and face further cuts, it makes absolutely no sense to create potential barriers to family doctors.

Bed-blocking in our hospitals remains a real issue and part of the plan to ease pressure is to allow our ageing population to remain independent for longer. A visit to the family GP to address any ailments at an early stage will play a huge role if this plan is to work.

So well done NHS Oxfordshire for keeping these surgeries open.

They must be commended for having the confidence to amend their plans. Too often “public consultations” are simply an afterthought by public bodies who have no intention of listening to the communities they serve.

Patients will respect NHS Oxfordshire for their decision.