UP to 500 people have signed a petition to urge health chiefs to keep a regular blood-testing clinic in Wollaston.

The Three Villages Medical Practice in Bridgnorth Road took over the service in October following the closure of the Meriden Avenue Surgery last June – after patients persuaded Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group to keep a clinic in the village.

CCG bosses agreed to run a four-hour clinic at the surgery every Monday from 11am to 3pm while carrying out a full review of similar clinics in the borough.

But patients want to ensure the service remains in the village and a petition at the surgery has garnered 450 to 500 signatures from people keen to see it preserved.

Colin Burch, of the Three Villages Medical Practice Patient Participation Group, said: “This is very important for the village. It’s a service for all Wollaston people and people that don’t want to go to Corbett Hospital and any other surgery.

“It’s right on a bus route in the centre of the village – it’s very handy for people who’ve got limited mobility, and we’d like to have it here on a permanent basis.”

Margot James, who has taken up the cause on behalf of patients, said: “It’s a good example of services being where patients need them. I’ll be writing to Dr David Hegarty, chairman of the CCG, and will be sending him all the signatures and urging him to confirm that the phlebotomy service at this practice is maintained into the future.

“It’s vital that we have more and more of these services where patients can access them – particularly if it takes the pressure of the hospital.”

A spokesman for Dudley CCG said a review of phlebotomy clinics across the borough was continuing and added: " A final decision on the locations of clinics across the borough will be made following the review, which will give the opportunity for public views to be considered."