SHOCKWAVES rippled across the Wellington community on Thursday (July 31) as news of the closure of one of the town’s two GP surgeries reached its nearly 7,000 patients.

NHS Somerset said all patients with Luson Surgery, in Fore Street, would be automatically transferred to the nearby Wellington Medical Centre (WMC), in Mantle Street.

Luson’s two GP partners, whose premises were last autumn declared not fit for purpose, will shut their doors on Friday, September 26.

NHS Somerset promised a ‘smooth automatic transfer’ for Luson patients, who will start to be seen at WMC from Monday, September 29.

A spokesperson said: “There is no need for patients at either practice to take any action.

“Luson’s patients will be automatically transferred, while existing patients at Wellington Medical Centre are being reassured extra staffing will be in place to ensure the practice can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.”

Luson practice partner Dr Rachel Yates said: “We would like to thank all our wonderful patients, it has been a privilege to provide care for you over the years, and we will continue to do so until we close our doors in September.

“The sustainability challenges we face have brought us to this incredibly difficult decision and we need to do what is right for our patients to make sure they can continue to access high quality care.

“We know they will be in good hands at Wellington Medical Centre.

“I would also like to pay tribute to all my talented, dedicated, and compassionate colleagues at the practice who work so hard for local people every day, thank you for all you do.”

GP partner at Wellington Medical Centre Dr Sally Dimambro said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to all patients of Luson on behalf of all my colleagues at Wellington Medical Centre, we look forward to meeting you and getting to know you.

“I can reassure our existing patients we are working closely with NHS Somerset and Luson Surgery to ensure we have the additional resources we need to ensure a smooth transfer in September.”

The transfer will give WMC, which is rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, a patient list size of about 23,000.

Once the initial list transfer has taken place, Luson patients will be able to choose instead to switch their care to another nearby GP practice, subject to normal registration processes at that practice, although they will need to wait four weeks to do so.

The next nearest GP services are Lister House, in Wiveliscombe, the Blackdown Practice, in Hemyock, or surgeries in Taunton.

Wellington town councillors will be discussing local medical services when they meet in the United Reformed Church Hall, across the road from Luson Surgery, on Monday evening (August 4).

Councillors have been concerned for some time that Wellington could see about 2,700 new houses built in the next decade which could mean a population boom of 30 per cent, without any planned new infrastructure such as GP and dental surgeries.