THE future of a Hampshire GP surgery today hangs in the balance.

Parkside Practice has struggled to recruit enough new doctors to cover shifts at its two surgeries in Eastleigh and Chandlers Ford – blaming a national recruitment crisis.

Now bosses have launched a last ditch bid to ease the pressure by forging a deal for a neighbouring GP in North Baddesley to take on one of the surgeries and thousands of its patients.

But vulnerable and elderly residents fear the shake up will leave them struggling to reach their doctor due to insufficient transport links.

Under the proposals Parkside would refuse to see patients from two postcode areas.

They currently have the option to use either surgery and often prefer Eastleigh due to better bus links, but would be restricted to attending Chandlers Ford and North Baddesley under the plans.

Practice managers say the proposals – due to come in on April 1 – are yet to be rubber stamped and are urging people to have their say at two public consultation meetings.

It comes as the NHS faces a severe GP shortage nationally with the number of surgeries closing more than trebling within two years leaving more than 200,000 patients without a GP.

Parkside has 11,000 registered patients who have the option of using its main base in Eastleigh Health Centre, Newtown Road, or smaller Knightwood branch four miles away in Pilgrims Close, Chandlers Ford.

Managers are in talks for neighbouring North Baddesley Surgery to take over services at Knightwood – and transfer 2,700 patients living in SO52 and SO53 postcodes in North Baddesley and Chandlers Ford respectively – including around 200 people in the Velmore estate.

North Baddesley has two extra staff needed to run the surgery and needs to meet an increasing demand from new patients, according to health chiefs.

But families on the estate fear the plans will leave them stranded saying that public transport serves Eastleigh better than Knightwood.

One woman whose parents, 79, and, 82, in nearby Chestnut Avenue, said: “They don’t have a car. My mum is devastated. She’s got dementia and doesn’t like to chop and change. They need to accommodate people who have difficulties.”

Councillor Paul Bicknell, pictured, added: “It’s useless having a GP if you can’t get there. I hope they can come to an agreement to accommodate those people.”

Practice manager Judi Green said the surgery had been relying on expensive locum doctors after failing to recruit staff to support its six full-time equivalent GPs.

She added: “Something has to happen because Parkside can’t carry on anymore like this. This isn’t specific to Eastleigh, it’s a national crisis.”

She said partners are “upset” at the prospect of parting from long-term patients.

Elizabeth Goold [CORR], chairwoman of Parkside’s patient participation group, said the organisation supports the proposals and added: “The greatest fear is that the practice closes.”

Staff from North Baddesley surgery referred the Echo to the NHS West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) overseeing the changes.

A CCG spokesman urged people to get involved in the consultation and added: “We are keen to hear the comments and concerns from everyone in the communities affected, so that we can all make an informed decision.”

“This would not affect the patient’s right to register with a practice of their choice but ensure all patients remain registered with a local GP.”

Figures show 72 surgeries shut in England in 2015, blamed on an exodus of GPs retiring early or quitting for jobs overseas, while younger doctors are opting for more alternative jobs in hospitals.

The public meeting takes place from 2-7pm today, in Knightwood Surgery and from 2-6pm tomorrow in the Velmore Centre, Falkland Road.