THE sudden closure of a Pinner clinic will be reviewed by Harrow Council amid claims of secrecy.

NHS Harrow initially said the first signs of trouble at the Village Practice came when two partners resigned. But last night Conservative politicians said the crisis began earlier, with the suspension of a doctor.

The committee voted to set up a “challenge panel” to investigate events surrounding the closure, which some residents believe was an attempt to amalgamate two practices without consultation.

Councillor Paul Osborn (Conservative/Pinner) said he did not believe the “rumours” but told health bosses at last night's meeting they had not presented the full story.

He said: “There are a number of us who don't think the first indicator was when these doctors resigned.

“We had to drag out of you that there were concerns before that. We are not getting to the bottom of this.”

NHS Harrow had previously said the closure was the result of a row between the doctors there, and was necessary for the protection of patients.

The surgery, in Barrow Point Avenue, has been temporarily moved to the Pinn Medical Centre, newly built just 300m away, with capacity for 23,000 patients but a catchment area of just 13,500 people.

NHS Harrow says it did not have time to ask residents for their views on the move due to the urgent need to reprovide services.

Councillors last night grilled managers at NHS Harrow on whether they failed to pick up problems at the clinic earlier on, saying the issue called into question the system for monitoring services across the borough.

Dr Jonathan Rudolph, a partner at the Pinn Medical Centre, in Eastcote Road, said the councillors had “every right to raise their concerns” and told the Harrow Times the clinic did not "go looking for this" but would be able to care for the extra patients.

He said: "I think that we are a very big, very capable well-built practice. We have considered all the needs of the patients, we have taken on the Village doctors for the best interests of patient care."

Mark Easton, interim chief executive of NHS Harrow, disputed suggestions the trust had planned to amalgamate the surgeries to save money, stressing the move was only temporary.

He told councillors: “These changes were not driven by financial reasons. If there are some savings then clearly that is a good and fortuitous thing because the PCT's financial situation is in difficulty.”