Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) is writing to all registered patients at Bury Road, Surgery, with an update on its future.
The letter is due to arrive this weekend.
The ICB initially contacted patients on January 23 this year to confirm that the GP partner at Bury Road Surgery had resigned his contract to deliver primary care (GP services) and that the surgery would close with effect from March 31, 2023.
It sent another letter on March 15 to state that because of ongoing contractual discussions with the practice the date had been extended until June 30, 2023, and that all services would continue to run until then.
No decisions have yet been taken over the future of the practice, whilst the ICB continues to investigate “all the available options for the ongoing provision for patients registered at Bury Road Surgery.”
However, as part of the planning the ICB is contacting patients to find out their preference for an alternative practice, if Bury Road closes.
Keeley Ellis, the ICB’s Pimary Care Locality Director for south east Hampshire, said: “We may not need to use this information but having it on record will allow us to act swiftly if we need to.
“We hope – and will make every effort - to give people their first preference but need a second and third just in case we need to allocate some people to their next preference. If patients don’t make a preference, they will be assigned to a practice, but we will obviously consider where they live when doing this. The letter will include a point of contact for any patients who have any enquiries.
“We will write to patients again soon to confirm the next steps. We know the situation is unsettling for many people and we are very grateful for everyone’s ongoing patience and understanding. The discussions with the practice are extremely complex.”
Different patients will have different options, depending on where they live, and the forms can be completed electronically for emailing or written out and handed in.
Full instructions and details will be given in the letter, which will be accompanied by a survey which needs to be completed on behalf of every registered patient.