PATIENTS and doctors say the loss of their Canford Heath surgery after an arson attack is a devastating blow to their community.

It will be several months before the surgery is reopened and patients will have to travel to the main surgery in Mitchell Road instead.

Patient records have also been damaged by the fire and the NHS says its main concern is securing those that remain.

Senior partner Dr Duncan Muir said he was sickened by the attack.

The surgery was gutted by a fire set by arsonists in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Around 40 firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out at around 2.30am in the Neighbourhood Centre practice in Culliford Crescent, Canford Heath.

Police believe the fire was started by a wheelie bin being set alight next to the building.

A second wheelie bin was also found alight behind shops in the Culliford Crescent precinct but luckily had not spread to nearby premises. The GP practice is used by 3,500 patients and is part of the Canford Heath Group Practice which is based in nearby Mitchell Road.

Patients with forthcoming appointments at the Neighbourhood Centre practice have been advised to contact the Mitchell Road surgery on 0844 4995232.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were drafted in from across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, including the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne and a water carrier from Christchurch.

Crew manager Stuart Gillion, from Poole fire station, said: “The fire spread to the eaves and then into the roof and it had been going for some time. We did what we could to limit the damage.”

Afterwards incident commander station manager Sean Frampton added: “This is a good opportunity to remind commercial businesses that having large amounts of rubbish or wheelie bins close to their premises can be a fire hazard.

“Having them emptied as frequently as possibly and stored securely away from the building where possible is important and reduces the risk of arson.”

A fire crew remained on scene until around 10am yesterday damping down hotspots in the building, while a police crime scene examiner and fire investigation officer began their examination of the surgery.

DC Shanena Stewart, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said: “It is suspected that one or more waste bins were set alight deliberately and as a result the roof of the surgery has ignited and is now completely destroyed.

“There is major external damage from the fire and internal water damage.

“Luckily no one was injured.

“However, this will have a huge effect on the local community which includes many elderly residents.”