MARLBOROUGH Road Surgery’s 2,000 patients will not be left in the lurch when the practice folds next month, according to NHS bosses.

In an email sent to South Swindon MP Robert Buckland and seen by the Adver, NHS England director for Bath, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire Ian Biggs explained that nearby GP surgeries had been overwhelmed by the scores of patients phoning in to register.

Yet he confirmed there was enough provision available to accommodate all patients from Marlborough Road Surgery.

“Inevitably, some practices have more capacity to accept new patients than others,” he said. “The two main areas that Dr Rohlfing’s patients live in are Marlborough Road/Lawn and Covingham/Dorcan Way.

“The four practices nearest to Marlborough Road have already received a large number of enquiries about registration.”

Despite these reassurances, Mr Buckland said he feared the transition may not be as smooth and swift as it could be.

“It’s an important issue,” he said. “Residents have had problems getting into the books of other surgeries. The issue for me is to get as many patients registered close to the area where they live.

"This is an issue I have raised with NHS England.”