THOUSANDS of patients in Manningham will have to change GPs next year.

Health service commissioners have announced they will be shutting services currently available at Manningham Health Centre, Westbourne Green Community Health Centre and Whetley Medical Centre, in March, affecting around 7,000 patients.

Local Care Direct has a short-term contract to run Manningham Health Centre and Picton has had a contact to run the two others until next Spring.

Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says other doctors surgeries in the area, with longer-term contracts, will now be offered the opportunity to take on those patients and the three premises will also be available to be used if needed.

Last summer, people-power reversed a decision to close Manningham Medical Centre after making a strong case to keep it open.

A public consultation was held in which people said they did not want changes every few years.

Chief Officer at Bradford City CCG Helen Hirst said: “We appreciate that changing local GP services can be unsettling but we have a duty to do all that we can to develop high quality, responsive and robust primary care services that are equitable for all the communities we serve.

“We think this is the best way forward for patients who have told us quite clearly that they value continuity of care from the same group of doctors and staff. Allowing existing, high performing surgeries to take on more patients will make them more attractive to clinical staff seeking employment, helping them to recruit and retain the right people to ensure continuity of care."

She added: “I’d like to thank everyone who took part in our public consultation into the best way forward for primary care in Manningham. Feedback from this and from patient participation groups was considered carefully as part of this decision and will continue to have a key role in moving towards a positive outcome for the local community. We will work closely with the three temporary providers, patients and the local community to ensure a seamless transfer of care.”

The CCG says that patients do not need to take any immediate action and will get a letter with further information in the coming weeks.

However, anyone wanting to move practices ahead of the changes can register with a GP surgery of their choice. All 15 practices within a one-mile radius of Manningham are accepting new patients.

A list of GP surgeries is available on the NHS Choices website – www.nhs.uk.