Future secure for primary care (GP surgery) services in Westbury

NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (NHS Gloucestershire) has informed patients registered with Westbury Surgery that Forest Health Care will provide primary care services in Westbury from 1^st August 2023.

The news means that the services currently available for patients registered at Westbury Surgery are secure for the long term.

Forest Health Care is a well-established GP Practice in Cinderford with a branch surgery in Ruardean. It has a strong commitment to the local community and a reputation for providing really good care and developing services to meet the needs of patients.

Partners there agreed to take over the Westbury Surgery contract from 1^st August following notification from G DOC Ltd that they are unable to continue to provide services at Westbury Surgery due to staff changes.

Helen Goodey, Director of Primary Care and Place at NHS Gloucestershire, said:

“We believe that this is a great outcome for patients registered with Westbury Surgery.

We are confident that with their substantial experience, professionalism and dedication to patient care, the team at Forest Health Care will provide great leadership and will work extremely well with current members of the Westbury Surgery practice team.

We would like to thank G DOC Ltd for their support since April 2021.”

NHS Gloucestershire has reassured patients that a full range of primary care services will continue to be provided from the current surgery building, which will become a branch of Forest Health Care, and that they will be able to access services in the same way as they do now.

All patients will remain on the Westbury Surgery patient list and do not need to take any action. They will also be able to access GP surgery services from the Cinderford or Ruardean branch surgeries.

Dr Jeevan Kulkarni, GP partner at Forest Health Care, said:

“The Forest Health Care team is very excited with the prospect of working with everyone at Westbury Surgery.

We hope that patients at both practices will benefit from a wider range of skills and expertise, an increased number of services and a greater choice of appointments and clinics and that members of our practice teams will be able to share, learn and develop their skills together.”

NHS Gloucestershire will provide support to any patients who do not wish to transfer to Forest Health Care with help in finding an alternative GP practice.