A DOCTORS’ surgery has closed suddenly without warning - leaving 14,000 Basingstoke residents without access to their GP. 

Queuing patients outside Shakespeare Road Medical Practice in Popley were left confused and anxious after finding out their appointments were cancelled yesterday. 

The Gazette reported last year how partners of the surgery, previously known as Bermuda and Marlowe, were not renewing their contract in the spring after a damming report by the Care Quality Commission. A takeover  failed due to ‘contractual issues’, sources told this newspaper.

Sources told this newspaper that a planned takeover by Bramleys Grange had failed at the eleventh hour - leaving 14,000 people in Basingstoke without a functioning doctor’s surgery. 

The Clinical Commissioning Group, after several hours, confirmed the news to The Gazette last night. 

Councillor David Potter (Popley East) said he was “outraged” and described the situation as “unacceptable”.

Meanwhile, a patient who was left waiting for an important injection yesterday said it was a “scandal”.

You can read the full story in this week’s edition of The Gazette. Also in this week's paper:

  • Plans for a major distribution warehouse just off the M3 at junction 7 have been given the green light by councillors after a knife-edge meeting saw the application approved just six votes over four. 
  • Prince Philip’s former school in Headley has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh following his death yesterday aged 99. 
  • A Basingstoke man sexually abused a boy while playing hide and seek and told his victim not to say anything as it was “our secret”, it has been claimed in court.
  • Friends and family of a Basingstoke cricketer who died of Covid gathered to mark the one year anniversary of his death.
  • The borough’s political parties have expressed their commitment to supporting Basingstoke’s football club.
  • Basingstoke Town FC would transform the Camrose stadium into a “community hub” for sports should they be allowed to move back into the ground, the chairman of the club has said.
  • Basingstoke's MP has said a ‘large amount of taxpayers’ cash goes towards funding Anvil Arts and ‘confidence’ is needed in organisation’s leadership.
  • After 23 years as a borough councillor, and nearly 20 as a county councillor, Basingstoke’s ‘Old Ma Popley’ is stepping down from her roles at the upcoming elections.
  • PLUS: All the latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court.
  • Two pages of your letters to the editor.
  • IN PICTURES: Basingstoke town centre transformed from a ghost town into a bustling community of shoppers and pub goers as lockdown restrictions eased in step two of the Government's roadmap.
  • Everything you need to know about the upcoming council elections.
  • The latest news from our communities.
  • An eight-page puzzle special.
  • Business news.
  • Three pages of entertainment news.
  • Four pages of sports news. And much more!

To arrange a home delivery of the Gazette or Advertiser call 0800 7314 900 or 0845 7078 150 or email deliveries@newsquest.co.uk. If we do not cover your area, we will advise you with details of other available agents.

If you live outside our circulation area you can still receive our newspapers through a postal subscription order. To subscribe to the Basingstoke Gazette or Andover Advertiser visit basingstokegazette.co.uk/subscribe or andoveradvertiser.co.uk/subscribe or call 0800 7314900. You can also sign up for a delivered subscription here: https://adbooker.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/store/andbassubs/.