GP practices in Waterlooville and Cowplain to merge

Cowplain Family Practice and Queenswood Surgery in Waterlooville will link up in April.

The two GP practices, just a few hundred metres apart on London Road near the Waterlooville and Cowplain border, are the latest in a long line of other across the south-east Hampshire area joining forces.

It comes at a time of unprecedented demand on GP services.

Dr Michael Johns, senior partner at Cowplain, said: ‘Our main aim is to ensure that both practices will be able to continue to provide the high-quality care that our patients rightfully expect and demand.

‘Providing a professional, caring but friendly and individual service to all our patients is one of the highest priorities for staff at both practices and our joining together will help us to achieve that.’

Patients registered at one of the two surgeries may occasionally be asked to attend the other if they require specialist services or during staff absence.

But the majority of 
appointments will happen as they do now following the merger.

Dr Susan Stanley, senior partner at Queenswood, said: ‘Patients will still, in general, see their same doctors – and both surgeries will continue to operate their existing 
walk-in and appointment services with their regular staff.

‘The surgery hours of both practices will remain the same.’

She added: ‘This merger will help to ensure that we are able to offer the full range of primary care services to our patients.

‘Our doctors and nurses will be better able to support each other, enabling us to provide a more resilient service.’

Dr Stanley said the merger also helps ensure job security for all staff at both the practices.

South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group has approved the merger, which has been discussed with the patient participation groups at the practices.

Other patients and stakeholder groups have also been informed.