THE Bradford on Avon and Melksham Health Partnership is to close the St Damian’s Surgery in Melksham in the New Year.

The shock decision was taken by the practice partners after they were unable to recruit enough clinicians following the retirement of three full-time GP partners.

They are seeking approval from Wiltshire Clinical Commisioning Group to close the surgery by March 31 2019. Around 3,500 patients will be affected.

Wiltshire CCG says increased demands on healthcare services and the national shortage of GPs are having an impact on primary care across the UK and locally.

Dr Richard Sandford-Hill, NHS Wiltshire CCG Chair, said: “We understand the challenges facing primary care, particularly around recruitment of clinical staff.

“BoAMHP has sought approval to close its branch surgery in Melksham because, despite their best efforts, the partners feel unable to maintain a full range of patient services at all of their sites.”

Dr Janice Patrick, Senior Partner at Bradford on Avon and Melksham Health Partnership, said: “This has been a very difficult decision for us to take.

“Over the past year we have put a lot of measures in place to try and maintain the surgery at St Damian’s but we find ourselves in a position where we cannot continue to provide a service in Melksham with the resources we have available to us.

“BoAMHP is keen to continue to provide services to as many of the St Damian’s registered patients as wish to stay with their current GP, should our proposal to close the surgery at St Damian’s be approved.

“We are writing to all St Damian’s patients to explain to them what the proposed closure would mean for them.”

St Damian’s patients who want to continue to see a GP in Melksham would need to register with Giffords Surgery or Spa Medical Centre.

Patients who have questions or would like further information about the proposed closure should contact St Damian’s Surgery.