NYTHE Surgery is set to close its doors next month – after a merger with a town centre surgery.

The surgery will close on 31 March, according to letters sent to patients.

Patients currently registered with Nythe Surgery will be moved across to Eldene Health Centre. Health chiefs say that patients will continue to be able to access “high quality primary medical services”.

Town centre-based Victoria Cross Surgery, which currently run Nythe Surgery, will take over the management of the Eldene Health Centre. 

The merger - which comes as Eldene Health Centre's sole GPpartner Dr Richard Guilding prepares for retirement - will result in the closure of the Nythe Surgery.

Dr Guilding said he was “delighted” with the merger, saying it would “benefit our patients”: “Victoria Cross Surgery is an established practice and I am confident that this merger will have a positive impact on the care of patients.”

Dr Philip Bauliah, GP Partner at Victoria Cross Surgery, said: "Dr Guilding and his team have provided excellent primary care services for many years at Eldene Health Centre. 

“We know he will be greatly missed by his patients and staff on his retirement.  We understand this change can be a worrying time for patients, but we would like to reassure patients that they are at the heart of all our plans and that we will continue to provide primary care services at the practice sites.”

He said that the merger would improve the sustainability of the Victoria Cross Surgery and enable more training opportunities and support for staff.

Paul Vater, chief operating officer at NHS Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This is a great example of practices widening their pool of clinical expertise and ensuring a resilient and extended service, meaning patients will have greater choice and increased access to GPs, nurses and other staff.”