PATIENTS from a Washford GP surgery set to close at the end of September are being given the chance to meet their new doctors.

Drs Philip and Margaret Wilson’s decision to step down from providing health care at the Brendon Hills Surgery means their current list of 1,760 patients will be transferred to Dunster Surgery.

And people will be able to find out more about the changes at two drop-in information sessions next Wednesday (August 19).

The events – in Washford Memorial Hall from 2pm to 4pm and Roadwater Village Hall from 6pm to 8pm – will also provide the chance to see plans of the new £1 million surgery being built in Dunster.

The Dunster surgery, run by GPs Ian Kelham and David Davies, will have a total of four full-time and one part-time doctor, a dispensary and clinical and administrative staff to deal with the addition to its current 2,200 list of patients.

Dr Kelham said: “We understand that people will have specific concerns and questions about the changeover and hope that the information sessions, along with regular newsletters, will help to answer their questions.

“We want to encourage as many patients as possible to come along.”

The new surgery at Dunster is not expected to be completed until January and from September 28 a temporary daily outreach surgery will be offered in Roadwater Village Hall offering care for most common conditions.

More complex problems will, however, be treated at the existing Dunster surgery.

More information on the types of treatment available, appointments and repeat prescription service, as well as winter ’flu clinics, will be available at the information sessions, as well as in practice newsletters.

In addition, a patient participation group has been set up to work closely with the Dunster practice during the changeover.