TWO GP practices in Bracknell Forest are set to merge, forming one new GP centre.

Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice have announced that they are merging on Saturday, July 1.

The two practices will come together to form Ringmead Medical Group, combining their management and clinical teams.

By combining the sites, the teams will be able to offer patients a wider choice of services.

Ringmead Medical Practice already delivers services from three sites in Bracknell Forest; the main site at Birch Hill Medical Centre, a branch surgery at Great Hollands Health Centre and one at Heath Hill Road, Crowthorne. In addition to these sites, the merged Group will continue to deliver services from the Sandhurst sites at Owlsmoor and York Town Road.

Executive partner at Ringmead Medical Practice, Dr Anant Sachdev, said: "We are fully committed to providing excellent healthcare services for patients in the Sandhurst area and are excited by the opportunity this offers local residents and staff, as we share skills, experience and innovations.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide an enhanced patient experience."

Ringmead Medical Practice have arranged a public event on Monday, July 10 in the Sixth Form Atrium at Edgbarrow School, at 7pm, where patients can ask questions. All are welcome. 

Bracknell Forest place convenor for NHS Frimley, Nicola Airey, said: “The purpose of the merger is to provide GP services in Sandhurst that are sustainable and offer people the good access, high-quality, personalised, and friendly service they want."

Ringmead Medical Practice has 9 partners, and is rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission, the national regulator. 

The practice has extensive experience and a proven track record in delivering quality services across more than one surgery, and by merging the sites, it is hoped that patients will be offered more services.

Sandhurst GP Partner, Dr Anita Vakil, said: "Both Practices share the same values and commitment to delivering quality clinical care and this merger will help to deliver improved access and choice for our patients.

"We look forward to the merger and working together to deliver healthcare services for the Sandhurst population."

The newly merged practice will have a new phone number which is 0333 332 0008. Calls to the existing number will be automatically diverted to the new number for a period of time to ensure patients can continue to access the practice.

All patients registered at both practices will be sent a formal notification of the merger and a link to a patient survey regarding the change.