EARLIER in June Goodwood Court surgery in Hove closed without notice. We now await the report from the CQC (Care Quality Commission) to find out why.

The 10,000 patients registered at this surgery had nearly two weeks without proper access to a GP. The only advice Brighton and Hove CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group), Healthwatch and Hove MP Peter Kyle could offer was to phone NHS 111 or go to the drop in clinic at the station.

Now we learn that NHS England has automatically transferred all the patients, and their medical records, to another Hove surgery, Charter Medical Centre.

How will Charter cope with 10,000 extra patients? What will the impact be on the existing 19,000 Charter patients? Will all these people be able to get appointments, prescriptions and treatment?

Earlier this year 5,000 patients in Kemptown were urgently trying to register with a new GP when the Eaton Place surgery said it was closing due to the two GPs retiring. No plan was in place to transfer these patients to other GPs.

Are we to expect further closures and patients stranded? Is this the new normal? Why does no-one appear to be responsible for ensuring we all have access to a GP? Which surgery will be next?

Janet Sang (Sussex Defend the NHS), Hythe Road, Brighton