SEVERAL surgeries in Bournemouth have merged in a bid to reduce costs and cope with a shortage of staff.

Talbot Medical Centre in Kinson Road and the troubled Northbourne Surgery in Wimborne Road have merged, taking on the former's name, with the latter's site operated as a branch.

Also, Shelley Manor Medical Centre in Boscombe has merged with the Holdenhurst Road Surgery in Springbourne, renamed the Shelley Manor and Holdenhurst Medical Centre.

NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said the changes will not see any branches closed, jobs lost or need for patients to re-register.

Dr Diana Gannon, senior partner for the new Shelley Manor centre, said: "Both practices have been working closely together for many years and we believe with the challenges Primary Care faces the time is now right for us to make this a formal arrangement to help maintain and improve services for patients.

"Whilst the major changes concern the day to day running of the practice, patients will benefit from a wider range of clinical skills and increased flexibility in appointments which can be offered across both sites."

While three of the surgeries have 'Good' ratings from the Care Quality Commission after inspections this year, Northbourne Surgery was rated 'Inadequate' following an inspection in March, and again after a follow-up in September.

Regarding the changes there, a CCG spokesman said: "Patients will be able to be seen at either site by any of the GPs as the majority will work across both.

"The difference is that there will be a greater spread of GP expertise and, for the Northbourne patients, access to a female GP.

"Booked appointments are also available for Northbourne patients, who have previously had to speak to the GP first.

"For the time being back office functions will remain at both sites but eventually these may be based at one site."

He said the group would "engage with patients" at Shelley Manor and Holdenhurst Road to determine what changes were needed there.

The Talbot Medical Centre has around 19,000 patients, and Northbourne Surgery 5,500. The Shelley Manor Medical Centre has around 12,000 patients, and Holdenhurst Road Surgery 9,500.

The move towards merging GP practices is driven by a critical shortage of GPs, leaving services stretched, as well as efforts to reduce costs. To this end, as part of its Clinical Services Review, NHS Dorset has proposed the creation of 'super surgeries' with as many as 50,000 patients, based at a smaller number of 'hub' sites.