TWO Minehead doctors surgeries have joined forces in a bid to secure the future of medical care in the town.

Irnham Lodge and Harley House Surgeries merged to com under one name, Minehead Medical Centre, on April 1.

Despite merging, patients will be able to see their regular GPs at the normal, separate, locations.

The merger has come about after approval was given from NHS England.

Harley House Surgery’s senior GP partner, Dr John Higgie, said: “The loss of one surgery in Minehead would have serious implications for the remaining practice in the town, our surrounding surgeries and other local NHS services.

“The remaining surgeries could not cope with the sudden re-allocation of 7,000 patients or more which would cripple the provision of good quality primary care. We are taking action now to prevent such an event ever occurring and ensure sustainable primary care services for our community.”

Irnham Lodge Surgery GP partner, Dr Ed Ford, said the merger provides an opportunity to improve service provision for patients in the town.

He added: “Once the practice lists have merged we will be able to combine our skills to offer a greater range of services to patients and combine the services currently offered at one practice but not the other.

“Crucially, a robust single practice partnership in Minehead provides us with an opportunity to join forces to recruit new doctors rather than working against each other.

"This is vital to ensure we can keep individual GP list sizes manageable and provide access to routine primary care appointments in a more timely fashion.”