A spokesperson said: “The partners at two medical practices based in Brighton & Hove are proposing to come together on 1 July 2022.
“There is no need for patients registered at either surgery to do anything, their needs will be taken care of automatically as part of the process.
“The Partners at Benfield Valley Healthcare Hub and Brighton Health and Wellbeing Centre are confident that they will work well together, with both practices having a strong patient focused ethos.
“Both practices serve populations with high levels of mental health issues, homelessness and deprivation and a deep commitment to the communities that they serve.
“Under the proposal, the practices will still operate in their original locations and patients will still be able to book appointments with their current doctor. The intention is for the premises to remain unchanged with services delivered from all three sites. There is also a process underway to apply to share a branch surgery in Burwash Road.
“We understand patients may have suggestions or questions and we would like to hear from them and will be working with the practices to ensure patients are properly engaged with.
“Brighton and Hove CCG is working alongside the practices to ensure a smooth transition and support engagement with patients and communities ahead of the proposed merger.
General Practice services in Brighton and Hove are facing the same pressures that are being reported from around England. The CCG is committed to supporting any coming together of practices and ensuring that patients are engaged in the process. The proposed plan is not the result of any CCG funding cuts or reorganisation.”
“We have put extensive measures in place to support GPs in the city, including financial and educational support to help them run their surgeries more effectively and efficiently to free up doctors to provide more care for patients – one surgery alone saved the equivalent of seven weeks of consultation time per year through a change in repeat prescription process.”