AN MP has branded a potential merger of two GP surgeries as “unacceptable” in a letter to health bosses.

Eastleigh MP, Paul Holmes has written to the Head of Primary Care at Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to raise his concerns at the proposed merger of Bursledon and Blackthorn GP practices.

A public consultation is currently underway on the proposal which the CCG says is intended to “create a single stable practice able to deliver high quality continuing care to all patients from a single site”.

But now Mr Holmes has slammed plans in the letter which he shared with constituents on social media on Friday.

Daily Echo:

He said: “I have written to Hants NHS to list my concerns to the proposed merger of Bursledon and Blackthorn GP practices.

“The area needs two fully working GP practices and this is what I have called on them to explore urgently first before conducting this consultation.”

In the letter, Mr Holmes adds: “Bursledon is an area of my constituency that is growing substantially, with development and a growing population in the area, it is wholly unacceptable.

“It is also worth nothing that the local area has some of the most acute health needs in the Borough of Eastleigh.

“It is also disappointing that several years ago, extraordinary efforts were made to develop a bespoke and purpose built GP facility that will now not be used for its intended purpose.

“My constituents deserve and expect the best health services in locations that are easily accessible and flexible, these proposals do not achieve that and are a step back for accessibility to some of my most vulnerable constituents.”

He continued to ask for the proposal to be reassessed, calling for a replacement GP practice at the Lowford Centre site and a halt to any merger until these have been exhausted.

This comes just weeks after borough councillors said that were “worried” by the merger plans, presenting a report to Eastleigh Borough Council’s cabinet highlighting a number of issues.

But the CCG said: “At present, patients registered with Bursledon Surgery have their GP services provided by Blackthorn Health Centre. This temporary arrangement follows the retirement in December 2019 of the GP previously running Bursledon Surgery.

“In discussion with the CCG, Blackthorn Health Centre now proposes to make these temporary arrangements permanent from October 2021.

“If the proposal is accepted, it means that the Lowford Centre surgery site would continue to have an important role in the delivery of NHS primary care services within the local area.”