Two Havant area GP practices are set to merge.
Staunton Surgery, Havant, and Park Lane Medical Centre, Bedhampton, will officially join contracts on 1st April 2023.
The move has been approved by their NHS commissioners, the Integrated Care Board for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The practices have written to every household with patients registered with them to inform them of the decision – and the reasons for it.
Dr Tim Wright, Senior Partner at Staunton and Park Lane, said: “We know that any change can be unsettling for patients, but we want to re-assure them that there is no reason to be alarmed by the merger – in fact we strongly believe that it will be good news for everyone.
“Patients will still have access to the same GPs and other staff to provide continuity of care, both sites will remain open, and the merged practice will be offering exactly the same primary care services as before.
“Patients with urgent medical needs may be able to be seen at either site and all patients will have access to a wider multi-disciplinary team.
“The merger will also enable all patients to be able to access the services offered by both existing practices and we will also be reviewing our telephone systems to try to reduce patient wait as we know this can be a big source of frustration.
“Crucially, working together will also offer us the opportunity to create a much more resilient, larger scale and a far more sustainable primary care operation in the Havant area, especially at times when staff are on leave or off sick.
“We also hope that the merger and be a more attractive employer when we need to recruit clinical and other practice staff in future.”
The practices are changing their names – to Blossom Health, a name chosen by staff.
There have been a number of other GP practice mergers throughout this area, also to ensure long-term sustainability at a time of considerable challenge for the NHS when demand for GP services has never been greater.
Both practices have put up a Questions and Answers factsheet about the merger for patients on their websites. Visit Park Lane or Staunton.