Patients have now been informed of plans for Gosport Medical Centre (GMC) to become part of the Willow Group.
If the merger goes ahead the newly-merged practice would be operated in partnership with Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, which currently works in partnership with The Willow Group. It would create one of the largest practices in Hampshire with around 49,000 registered patients.
The proposed merger has been approved by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, subject to certain assurances, including ensuring that staff and patients have been engaged with. The practices are currently engaging with their staff, patients, Patient Participation Groups and the local community.
A patient question and answer factsheet is available on both practice websites - www.gosportmedicalcentre.co.uk and www.thewillowgroup.nhs.uk.
The practices are also inviting patients to take part in an online patient survey which is also on their websites. The results will be used to inform future planning and provide themes for patient drop-in sessions that will be arranged to discuss the merger. Hard copies of the survey will also be available at all five practice sites.