THE two GPs behind the closure of one of Wellington’s two medical surgeries spoke this week to give more of an explanation for their shock move.

Drs Rachel Yates and Adedayo Awodiji run the Luson Surgery, in Fore Street, which will close when they resign their contract to provide services in September.

The surgery’s 6,600 patients will be automatically transferred to nearby Wellington Medical Centre, in Mantle Street.

They said in a message to patients: “Over the past few months we have worked closely with NHS Somerset to try to find a sustainable solution to continue to provide safe patient services at the practice.

“All possible alternative options have been explored but it has not been possible to find a way to provide a permanent, adequate, safe service at the practice.

“Unfortunately, the circumstances have made it no longer viable for us to continue operating.”

Drs Yates and Awodiji, who also hold a twice-weekly surgery for Wellington School boarders, said ‘staffing and premises challenges’ meant they were forced to take ‘the very difficult decision to permanently close the practice’.

They said: “We would like to thank all the practice staff who are working hard at an extremely challenging time to care for their patients.

“We would ask patients to be kind to staff in these difficult circumstances.

“Thank you to our wonderful team at the surgery for all their hard work, care, and commitment to our patients.”

The two GPs said their top priority was to maintain continuity of care and minimise disruption to healthcare, and patient wellbeing remained ‘at the heart of everything we do’.

They said: “We want to reassure patients and wider stakeholders that arrangements have been put in place for a smooth handover.

“We would ask patients, not to try and move in advance of Luson Surgery closing, to enable Wellington Medical Centre to put the necessary arrangements, resourcing, and staffing in place for a smooth transfer.”

The GPs said neither Luson nor Wellington practice staff would be able to provide any further information about the closure and transfer, and any questions should be directed to a helpline run by NHS Somerset by calling 0300 303 6409, which was open from 10 am to 6 pm on Monday to Friday.

An NHS Somerset spokesperson said extensive support had been given to Luson Surgery in the past 18 months in the face of ‘ongoing resilience and sustainability challenges’ which had ultimately impacted on the financial sustainability of the practice.

They said the two largest challenges had been staffing and the physical limitations of the Luson building, which was one of 14 identified four years ago as needing either to expand or to relocate in light of Wellington’s forecasted housing growth.

However, ‘a long-term sustainable solution could not be found’ to allow the practice to remain open, leaving both NHS Somerset and the two GPs little choice but to close.

The spokesperson said: “Staff at Luson have been informed about the contract resignation and patient transfer to Wellington Medical Centre.

“Staff are being offered support.”