Barnet Health Authority has confirmed it will think again before closing the West Hendon and Childs Hill clinics.

The cash-strapped authority wants more time to investigate whether GPs can take over services from chiropody to family planning currently based at the clinics.

But it voted last week to save £175,000 per year by pressing ahead with the closure of four other clinics in Station Road, Edgware; Brunswick Park Road, Brunswick Park; Holly Park Road, Friern Barnet, and Sutton Road, Muswell Hill.

Barnet's health watchdog said closing the clinics could destroy infrastructure which may be needed soon under the Government's plans to reorganise the health service around groups of GPs.

"I am still not sure there is going to be sufficient scope to develop services in the direction that the health service is going," said its chairman Elizabeth Manero.

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