Merger of two Swindon GP practices set to go ahead at beginning of July

Two GP practices in Swindon will officially merge from the beginning of next month, as part of a move that will bring clinical teams closer together, as well as provide patients with additional services.

Great Western Surgery in Farriers Close is set to merge with Sparcells Surgery in Midwinter Close on Thursday 1 July.

The merger, which will see Great Western Surgery become a branch site of Sparcells Surgery, will not change how patients interact with their respective surgery, and there will be no need for patients to re-register, nor will there be a change to how appointments are booked.  

Among the benefits of merging will be an increase in the availability of more-specialised staff at each site, such as mental health nurses and clinical pharmacists.

Staff at Carfax Health Enterprise, which manages both practices, have reassured patients that the merger will not have a detrimental impact on the way advice, care and treatment is accessed.

Sarah Smith, Director of Operations, Carfax Health Enterprise, said: “This merging of GP practices is a very positive move, and ensures that the thousands of patients registered with both practices will continue to receive an equally high standard of care.

“Patients will not notice a difference in how their healthcare is provided, and we will not be expecting patients of one surgery to travel to a new site for their appointments.

“The impact of the merger will be mostly visible behind the scenes, where our teams will begin to work in a more joined-up way and share resources, expertise and ongoing learning across geographical boundaries.”

Carfax Health Enterprise, which also provides GP services at the Swindon NHS Health Centre, formed as a not-for-profit organisation in 2009.

The community interest company is part of the Brunel Health Group primary care network, which brings together more than two dozen Swindon-based GP practices under a single parent organisation.

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, which oversees the provision of GP services in the local area, approved the merger at a meeting in public on Thursday 10 June.

Patients can find out more about the merger by visiting the website of their respective GP practice.

Any person with questions is encouraged to send an email to seniormanager.carfax@nhs.net.

More information about local health and care services can be found online at www.bswicb.nhs.uk.