MORE than 3,000 patients who relied on Smallbrook Medical Practice in Warminster are now frantically having to look for a new GP as the surgery will close in September.

As of September 15, the 3,591 registered patients will no longer be able to rely on the services the surgery provides as the three GPs that left earlier this year have not been replaced, meaning that it can no longer continue after 15 years of service.

Now thousands will look to sign up at surgeries such as The Avenue, in Warminster, which has more than 16,000 registered patients and the White Horse Health Centre in Westbury, which has nearly 20,000 patients, putting huge strain on these services.

Mark Dickson, Practice Manager for Smallbrook Medical Practice, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to close our Practice. We are writing to all of our patients to advise them of this decision and our focus now is on supporting them through the process of registering with an alternative practice.”

However both facilities are welcoming people to sign up and the staff that were at Smallbrook will now help out at the Westbury site.

“This is an incredibly difficult situation but I want to reassure people that we can accommodate for people’s needs as we are in a fortunate position,” said practice manager at The Avenue, Martin Randall.

“We have already had 400 people sign up and we welcome more people to do the same. We have seven GPs here and an eighth one will start later this year and we also have additional locum staff to help out. It will not be easy but we are here for people.”

The three GPs left within 10 days of each other in February due to maternity leave and the other two left for personal reasons.

Chairman of Sensible Thinking on Patients, Erica Watson, added: “This will put huge pressure on these services. We are talking about thousands of people here and people will suffer because of it, not just the patients but staff too.

“You will have to get two buses to get from Smallbrook to Westbury, which is very inconvenient, especially for the elderly. I am very worried about this but this is part of a national problem.”

Smallbrook, which is part of the Westbury Group Practice, will be holding open sessions for patients to drop in if they have questions about the closure or how to register elsewhere are taking place on Monday, June 26, from 8.30am-1pm and July 3, from 8.30am-1pm.

Dr Peter Jenkins, Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group Chairman, said: “We are confident that with both the White Horse Health Centre and The Avenue being able to take on new registrations, local patients will continue to receive a full service.”

Patients must register with a new practice by September 8 and for more information call 01985 846700.

Other nearby services include Cherry Orchard Surgery in Codford, Mere Surgery and Beckington Surgery.