A PATIENT says the doctor at the heart of a row that closed a Pinner surgery saved her husband's life.

The Village Surgery, in Barrow Point Avenue, was suddenly shut and around 7,000 patients moved to the Pinn Medical Centre after two of the three partners resigned.

Dr Niall Dove, the third partner, was suspended by NHS Harrow in 2008, a neutral act, but an investigation upheld concerns relating to his use of computer systems, his record keeping and his ordering of tests.

Carole Goldstein, 74, of Gilbert Road, Pinner, defended Dr Dove, saying he saved her 76-year-old husband Peter's life 11 years ago by diagnosing him with lung cancer at a stage early enough that it could be treated.

She told the Harrow Times: “My husband had five good years after that. If it hadn't been for Doctor Dove he wouldn't be here today. He was just a fantastic doctor.

“He would come round to our house. My husband had a couple of strokes and I phoned the surgery, he would be round here within half an hour. He looked after him for 15 years.”

Dr Dove was allowed to return to work with conditions preventing him from performing certain tasks without supervision but the three partners were unable to continue working together.

Dr Sheridan said the collapse of the practice was based on “a simple issue about skills, attitude and competency” from the audience of a packed meeting between patients and NHS Harrow last night.

Dr Sheridan and Dr Wong are both still seeing patients the Pinn Medical Centre, but Dr Dove was not moved with them.

His former patients expressed their desire to see him return at the meeting, at Pinner Village Hall, at 7.30pm.