COUNCILLORS are hosting a meeting for patients of a GP surgery affected by a merger with an American healthcare firm.

As previously reported, Camrose, Gillies and Hackwood partnership - the largest primary care provider in North Hampshire - announced that it would merge today (Friday) with Operose Health, an American company.

Residents and councillors have reacted angrily to the news, with one appealing for it to be stopped until proper consultation with the surgeries' 40,000+ patients is carried out.

Now, Labour councillors in Brighton Hill and South Ham, two of the three areas that the partnership serves, have decided to hold an online 'Town Hall' via Zoom for residents who are affected by the development.

Cllr Kim Taylor, who represents Brighton Hill South, told the Gazette: "As councillors we have written to both the [Clinical Commissioning Group] and the Acorn Partnership and have received only 'standard letter replies' that are being sent to everyone.

"I have written again and specifically asked the CCG what lessons they learned from the problems with Rooksdown and Beggarwood when they were taken over by venture capitalists and what safety nets they have put in place to protect services.

"As of yet I have received no response. We are holding the meeting in view of the high number of contacts we have received."

You can register for the Zoom meeting at https://basingstokelabour.org/gp-town-hall-meeting.

Independent councillor Paul Harvey had told the Gazette last week that he was asking the surgery to stop the merger until a consultation could be carried out.

Cllr Harvey said he had concerns, adding: "The NHS [is] effectively being sold to an American healthcare surgery. That is a massive thing.

"I have been told that they have a reputation for selling assets and changing services.

"I am saying stop, talk to people, engage with people. Don't just expect people to accept it.

"The weight of the opinion expressed to me suggests that there is concern that pre-dates Covid."