Barnet Health Authority will think again about closing the Childs Hill and West Hendon health clinics.

A report before Barnet Health Authority yesterday recommends further work be done "to more fully demonstrate the case for closure" of the clinics.

But the cash-strapped authority wants to press 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.

It argues that it is better to close buildings than cut services and says the closure will save it £175,000 per year.

Health watchdog Barnet Community Health Council said there was a lack of strategy behind the closures and they will make it harder for patients to access services from chiropody to family planning.

The health authority has promised to pursue the CHC's suggestion of raising money by renting the clinics out to voluntary organisations.

But it says changes in technology mean these services can be provided better and cheaper by switching them from the clinics to GP surgeries, health visitors and Finchley Memorial and Edgware Community hospitals.

But the report recommends holding fire on the two clinic closures to investigate whether GPs and health visitors can take over their workload in the Cricklewood area.

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