FOLLOWING the announced closure of Bordon’s Woolmer Surgery because of a shortage of GPs, the NHS has reassured residents other practices in the town are not following suit.

Concerns were raised about Pinehill Surgery, in Bordon, when patients noticed a situations-vacant post for a new GP at the practice. With Woolmer’s closure resulting from problems over replacing doctors, some feared Pinehill might see similar struggles.

But the NHS said a recent reduction in the surgery’s workforce had not been an issue in the short term as there had been a parallel reduction in patients.

“Pinehill Surgery went down from three part-time GP partners to two from April 1, but this has not been seen as a problem as a high number of our patients have left the area since the Army’s move out of the Whitehill and Bordon area,” the NHS told the Bordon Herald, speaking on behalf of the practice.

“Whereas before we had three GPs offering 14 sessions (half days), we have been operating quite effectively with two GPs offering 12 sessions.

“We are an innovative and training practice. We have increased our nurse-prescriber appointments for minor illness.

“We have a qualified hospital doctor in the practice for five clinical sessions (half days) a week.

“However, we have, in recent weeks, gained a significant number of new patients, as a result of which we have been reviewing our available resources and exploring all our options to ensure that we are in the best possible position to offer the best possible healthcare services that we can to the community and to the patients that we serve.

“The advert has been part of that process. We have had a very encouraging response to the ad.”