HEALTH bosses are hoping to come up with a solution by the end of next month to ensure 11,400 patients are not left without a doctor.

NHS England and the Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group want to find a solution after The Practice Group decided to terminate its contract to run five doctor's surgeries in the city.

The news emerged last week and patients were sent letters informing them of the developments on Monday and Tuesday.

The company runs the Whitehawk Medical Centre, Willow House Surgery in Bevendean, Hangleton Manor Surgery, one based in Boots in North Street and the Brighton Homeless Healthcare in Morley Street.

In a statement the group said it decided to end its contract, giving six months' notice until the end of June because it would be "impossible" to run the surgeries with an "impending and significant reduction" in funding, among other factors including staffing problems.

The announcement left the future of staff unclear and the care of 11,400 patients in doubt. But NHS England bosses insisted no immediate changes would take place and no final decisions had yet been made. A decision will be the result of lengthy discussions but early indications of the plans could be made by the end of February.

Possible solutions include negotiating with The Practice Group to see if an alteration or extension of the existing contract is possible, setting up a temporary arrangement with another healthcare provider for those surgeries, or moving patients to other practices across the city.

Dr Xavier Nalletamby, chairman at NHS Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and partner at St Peter's Medical Centre in Oxford Street, Brighton, said: "We hope the outcome will strengthen and improve the quality of general practice in the city in the longer term and will be doing everything we can in the short term to help prevent practices from being overwhelmed."

"We must find a way of making things work with the budgets that we have."

Healthcare professionals are eager to assure patients this would not be a repeat of the closure of Goodwood Court in Hove in June last year. It shut its doors within a week of a Care Quality Commission inspection, leaving 10,000 patients temporarily without a doctor. Some 5,000 patients were forced to re-register with other doctors after the Eaton Place Surgery in Brighton closed after the partners retired.

Patients can call 01293 729298, email england.primarycare.southeast@nhs.net or write to Primary Care Team, NHS England, 18 - 20 Massetts Road, York House, Horley, RH67DE by February 19 to respond to the changes.