MINEHEAD’S two GP surgeries announced this week they are to merge and create a single new practice in a move to safeguard the future of medical care in the town.

Harley House and Irnham Lodge Surgeries said the practices will continue to work from two different sites but will merge the business partnership and their teams from April, if approved by NHS England.

The partners have agreed that now is the time to join forces rather than risk one or other of the surgeries being forced to fold.

The move comes against a backdrop of both surgeries seeing experienced doctors retire in recent years, with more planned retirements to come, and they are struggling to attract new GPs due to a national recruitment crisis.

“The merger will ensure the sustainability of general practice services in Minehead by creating resilience and a robust surgery partnership which will be attractive to new recruits, particularly GPs,” a joint statement said.

Full report in today’s Free Press.