By Saul Cooke-Black

A GP surgery could merge with another to prevent the practice having to close.

Bosses at St Luke’s Medical Centre in Stroud are seeking another surgery to merge with.

With two senior GPs set to retire, partners from another surgery will have to be found by September 30 to keep St Luke's going.

Dr Michael Russell Evans and Dr Andrew Pride announced they were retiring a while back and, despite attempts to recruit new partners, the surgery has been unable to find replacements.

In a letter to patients, managers said they were hoping services would continue at the current building in Cainscross Road by effectively allowing partners from another NHS surgery to take over the practice.

Helen Goodey, NHS Gloucestershire clinical commissioning group associate director, said: “NHS England recently received notification of the retirement of two GP partners with effect from the end of September which would significantly affect the running of the practice.

“The practice, supported by the CCG, has begun positive discussions with local GP surgeries in the area, including the potential for services to continue from the St Luke’s premises after the six month notice period ends [on September 30].

“We would like to reassure patients registered with the practice that we are committed to achieving the best outcome for them and making sure they have access to high quality, local GP services into the future.

"We recognise the contribution the practice has made to the provision of a wide range of healthcare over many years and also the efforts made by them over recent months to support service continuity.”

Managers at St Luke's are confident of remaining open and patients have been told there is no need to change surgeries.