A GP surgery has reduced its opening hours due to a shortage of GPs – who are on holiday.

Totton Health Centre, in Testwood Lane, will be closed every Friday through July and August.

Announcing the news, New Horizons Medical Partnership said the “difficult” decision was prompted by a lack of GPs and Care Coordinators.

But the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) confirmed the weekly closure was a result of planned holiday and sick days, and patients will be able to access services at Forest Gate Surgery.

As of April 2024, New Horizons had 23,789 registered patients at Totton Health Centre and Forest Gate Surgery.

Thousands of these patients are likely to be impacted by the change of opening hours.

The news was announced on July 22, much to the shock of patients and Totton residents.

Despite the closure, patients have been reassured there will be no change to being able to access online consultations via e-Consult.

James Roach, director of primary care for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “We are working closely with New Horizons Medical Partnership and support their decision to close their Totton site on Fridays through July and August.

“This gives them the ability to consolidate resources to its Forest Gate Surgery site and they have assured us that patients will still be able to access the same services from this site on a Friday.

“The practice has had to make this change due to a combination of factors such as planned sick leave and planned summer holiday leave to ensure they can continue to deliver services safely.

“The practice discussed its plans with its Patient Participation Group, and the practice have put up notices at each site to let patients know about the temporary change and thank them for their understanding.”

In the annual GP Survey 2024, Totton Health Centre was positively received by patients, who ranked the ‘overall positive experience’ at the surgery at 87.7 per cent.

The surgery’s receptionists were also ranked highly, with a 90.6 per cent rating in the ‘helpful receptionist’ category.

Meanwhile, ‘ease of contact with the surgery’ on the phone received a 62.4 per cent rating.

The news of the closure was announced on social media this week, with a spokesperson from New Horizon stating: “Due to a shortage of GPs and care Coordinators we have made the difficult decision to close Totton Health Centre every Friday until the end of August.

“We will review the situation at the beginning of September.”