You may be aware that there is a growing trend in General Practice for local practices to increase their co-operation and cross-cover, to offer patients a better service by pooling resources.  With that in mind, Braeside Surgery and Devon Road Surgery are now planning to merge as practices.  The surgeries are very closely matched.  We are roughly the same size and are located near to each other, with a largely overlapping practice area.  We are in the same Primary Care Network. (A group of practices providing services to an area.) We are both dispensing. We both serve a semi-rural population. We run the same IT system and have the same telecoms provider. The partners/practices are familiar with each other and have a history of cooperation.  This will bring strength and depth to our clinical and managerial team and some efficiencies of scale.  Both sites will continue to operate as they do now. 
 
We would like to get your thoughts on the proposed merger.

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* 1. One of the reasons for merging will be to allow us to offer you a greater choice in appointment times and clinicians to see, so providing faster access.  How important is that to you?

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* 2. With the merger we will still ensure you are able to see the clinician of your choice, although as with now that might mean a longer wait than seeing another clinician.  How important is that to you that you can see a clinician of your choice?

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* 3. Another reason for merging will be to provide greater resources to cope with staff sickness/absences and deal with major emergencies like Covid.   How important is that to you?  

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* 4. The practice receives requests from new patients or currently registered patients who are moving out of our current practice area which we have had to decline.  The merger will give us the resources apply to increase our practice area. How important is that to you?

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* 5. To merge we need to demonstrate that we have obtained feedback from patients.  The merger will bring a greater number of clinicians and appointments available to you across both sites. Please could you indicate how you feel about the merger,

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* 6. Do you have any views on the proposal to merge Practices? If so, please tell us about them:-

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