A SURGERY is to close after it failed to recruit a new GP partner.

Last June Dr Alex Mancey-Barratt announced his intention to retire after 24 years of service at Hove Park Villas surgery in Hove.

The surgery issued a letter to patients informing them it would merge with Trinity Medical Centre in Goldstone Villas, Hove, to create a single practice.

The merger will be completed on September 30.

The Hove Park Villas building is no longer considered a suitable clinical environment to meet the standards for modern general practice.

The surgery reassured patients they would be able to access a wider range of services and the majority of staff are moving to the merged practice.

Patient records and care will also be transferred to Trinity.

The practice said it decided to merge with another surgery as it was not possible for Dr Charlotte Beecham to manage it on her own.

The letter to patients reads: “We have been working hard to find the best outcome for our patients, staff, GPs and the community.

“We believe that this can be achieved by merging our practice with Trinity Medical Centre to create a larger, single practice, an approach that is supported wholeheartedly by Trinity and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

“This way we can continue to provide first rate, sustainable GP services to the local community.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove CCG said: “We have been notified by the partners Hove Park Villas Surgery and Trinity Medical Centre of their intention to merge and then close the Hove Park Villas site, in order to provide first rate, sustainable GP services.

“This will help ensure patients get enhanced GP services, with extended opening times and broader services from more suitable premises.

“We are working closely with the GP practices and stakeholders to ensure this is done in the best possible way and are committed to ensuring patients continue to have access to services at local GP services.

“There is no need for registered patients to do anything to get a new GP, they will be automatically taken care of as part of the merger.”