PATIENTS at two Basingstoke GP practices have been told its service as normal despite fears of the care provider stepping away.

Residents who use the Beggarwood and Rooksdown surgeries had raised concerns amidst rumours that care provider, the IMH Group, had decided to pull out of both facilities.

However, the NHS North Hampshire CCG, which delivers healthcare services in the borough, has moved to reassure patients, saying this is not the case and that a resolution on the future of both practices is being discussed.

A spokesperson from the North Hampshire CCG said: “We have become aware of recent concerns about Beggarwood and Rooksdown practices and their future plans for providing primary care (GP) services.

“Please can we reassure you that neither Cedar Medical, the organisation that is responsible for both practices, or the IMH Group, the organisation that supports the practices, have decided to stop providing the primary care (GP) services that you use.

“However, the IMH Group has raised concerns about how it can support the practices in the future and has asked if Cedar Medical, IMH Group and North Hampshire CCG, the organisation responsible for planning most local health services, can work together to make sure that the practices continue to provide services to local people from their existing buildings.”

As previously reported in The Gazette, there have been long-running issues raised at both surgeries, with both sites being rated as ‘requires improvement’ following their latest Care Quality Commission inspections.

Both surgeries have had issues regarding patient waiting times and staffing levels for a long period of time.

Rooksdown ward councillor Simon Bound said that patients need a clear direct message as to the situation regarding the services being delivered.

Cllr Bound said: “There is a frustration that we have been talking for this long about the situation, and I believe that the CCG share some of the resident’s frustrations.

“We need to have a clear articulated plan as to what the current situation of the surgery is and what it looks like for the future.”

Cllr Bound told The Gazette that the uncertainty at the Park Prewett Road surgery has led to some residents saying they are seeking to get their healthcare elsewhere.

He added: “What we don’t want is to create unnecessary pressure at other surgeries.

“If we get a clear course of action then it will hopefully elevate some of the concerns people have.”

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward councillor Terri Reid echoed the thoughts of Cllr Bound.

She said: “They [CCG] have a responsibility to the people registered at both surgeries to sort this out.

“If they come to a clear decision then finally we might see improvements being made.”