THOUSANDS of patients have been told they must move surgery after a GP practice was ordered to vacate its current building.
Bosses at South Green Surgery, in Grange Road, Billericay, have been told the surgery must move by March next year and have struggled to find a suitable premises to relocate to.
As a result, a consultation has been launched with patients over a proposed merger with the New Surgery – 1.6 miles away in Stock Road.
South Green Surgery currently has more than 3,000 patients, while the New Surgery has just under 3,000 patients, and residents have been left fearing they will struggle to access appointments if the merger goes ahead.
GP bosses have written to patients reassuring them that all staff and patients will be moved as part of the merger and it will be “managed in the best interests of patients and staff”.
Marianne Wright, 60, said: “The surgery has more than 3,000 patients on their records.
“How can they just transfer them over to a new surgery and the staff go and work there?
“Years ago there were plans to build a new surgery on the same site and that never happened.
“You struggle to get appointments now, let alone at the new place.
“There are many, very many, elderly people who are supported by this surgery and how are they going to get seen now the distance is too far for many of them.
“It is major change for so many people.”
Bosses at the South Green Surgery claim they were initially told they need to vacate the current building by November 20, 2024.
After negotiations, an extension has been granted until March 2025.
In a statement on their website, South Green Surgery state: “Alternative options for premises in South Green are have been considered but, to date, no suitable premises have been identified.
“As any new arrangements must be in place before the deadline of March 31, 2025, South Green Surgery is proposing to merge with The New Surgery, and then to subsequently close the South Green Surgery site.
“This proposal would allow patients to receive continuity of care with staff from South Green relocating to The New Surgery.
“Patients from both practices will have access to a wider range of clinical expertise.
“The large team will have more resilience as there will be more team members to cover absences and to step up in response to surges in demand.”
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