A GP surgery in Popley has been closed whilst health bosses work out future care arrangements for its 14,000 patients.
The Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who are responsible for the administration of primary care services across the county, have confirmed to The Gazette that Shakespeare Road Medical Practice has been closed.
A spokesperson confirmed that the closure was temporary, but it is not known when services will return to normal.
The move will also affect Fort Hill surgery in Winklebury, which is run by the same practice.
The CCG's clinical lead for partnerships, Dr Matt Nisbett, said that the surgeries were closed whilst the CCG and practice "put in place arrangements for the future care of their patients".
He added that prescriptions and test results for existing patients can be dealt with by community pharmacies or the 111 service.
The statement in full, released this evening, read: “The surgeries that previously made up the Bermuda and Marlowe Practice are currently closed while we work with the practice to put in place arrangements for the future care of their patients.
"We have arranged for prescriptions and test results for existing patients to be dealt with locally by community pharmacies or the NHS 111 service over the next couple of days, and patients that require medical advice should contact NHS 111.”
As previously reported by The Gazette, the surgery, formerly known as Bermuda and Marlowe, was taken over at the start of April after the partners decided not to renew their contract when it expired.
Bramblys Grange, another of the town's surgeries, had taken over the surgery on April 1 and were due to run it on a 'caretaker' contract.
But sources told The Gazette that the takeover collapsed.
A councillor has since hit out at the closure, calling it a "disgrace".
Cllr David Potter told this newspaper: "It was only a matter of a week or two ago that the CCG were singing its praises about how well they have done and a bright future, and here we go again.
"The abject part of it is that there was no consultation with the patients who depend on the GP surgery. It is unbelievable really in a modern health society."
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