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GP practice closing after failed two-year partner search

A GP practice has given notice that it will close down after failing to recruit a replacement GP principal for two years.

Despite having given notice of their planned retirement way back in 2013, the two partners currently holding the contract for St Luke’s Medical Centre in Gloucester have failed to recruit a single GP willing to take over as principal.

Writing to patients, practice manager Adam Beard said the partners had ‘not taken the decision lightly’ but have concluded they can no longer go on, and as a result the practice closing date has been set as 30 September.

But he added that the practice was placing its final hope in the potential of any of the other local practices agreeing to merge with the practice and keep it open as a branch surgery.

The letter said: ‘Many of you will know that in August 2013 our two partners, Drs Evans and Pride, announced their intention to retire… Despite concerted efforts to replace the partners, we have not managed to do this, and they have now reached the point where they do not feel able to continue.

‘They have therefore given notice on their contract with the NHS… Their decision to do this was not taken lightly, and comes after having pursued a number of options to recruit new partners to the practice. This included extensive advertising through a variety of channels in the UK and abroad.’

As part of the Stop Practice Closures campaign, Pulse recently revealed that more than 160,000 patients have now been displaced by practice closures.