A GWENT GP has quit because he claims health bosses have failed to help tackle the appalling conditions patients and staff must put up with at his surgery.

Now he is taking up a position as a locum - at the same health centre.

And in the ultimate irony, Gwent Health Authority has bought the building since his resignation, and commissioned a health and safety report into it.

Crumlin Medical Centre's roof leaks, its walls are badly cracked, its wheelchair access and toilet facilities are poor and it breaches several health and safety requirements.

But Dr Colin Wood, pictured, says two years of trying to improve things for his 3,500 patients have been dashed by Gwent Health Authority's refusal to help pay to replace it.

Since he resigned the authority has bought the centre and is exploring health and safety issues and possible redevelopment.

"Unfortunately, our attempts to secure a third party development have been unsuccessful," said a spokesman.

"The health authority has now purchased the premises and has commissioned a health and safety report. Its outcome will form the basis for ongoing proposals for redevelopment of the surgery."

Dr Wood, however, calls the authority's attitude "disgraceful" and accuses it of crisis management. He took over at Crumlin in 1998, paying rent to the centre's owners, the village's previous GPs. Under a common type of agreement the health authority reimbursed him.

The owners wanted to sell, but neither Dr Wood nor the authority were willing to pay the £45,000 asking price. Under the regulations GPs must provide and maintain a building, so he began talks with a property management company on plans for a new surgery.

"We agreed on a 30-year lease, the plans were approved, we were organising Portakabins for the site," said Dr Wood.

"The health authority would only reimburse the rent it thought reasonable for the area, but the valuation fell short of what I would have had to pay the company. It was only about £6,000 a year, but the authority would not budge.

"I see plenty of brand new surgeries about. What's wrong with Crumlin? Isn't it good enough? If these were reasonable premises I would stick it out but I'm 54 years old, I don't need the aggro.

"My patients tolerate the conditions but deserve better. I shouldn't have been forced into this but the health authority did nothing to help."

On October 1, Dr Wood begins as a locum GP, filling in where needed. His first placement is at a surgery where a replacement has yet to be found for a departing GP - Crumlin Medical Centre.

Richard Bevan, executive support manager at Gwent Health Authority, said: "I can confirm that Dr Wood has resigned, however, he continues to work as a GP Locum at the same practice.

"Dr Wood's concerns centre upon the condition of his GP premises in Crumlin. Unfortunately the Health Authority's attempts to secure third party development of the premises in Crumlin has been unsuccessful."