The planned merger of seven GP surgeries in Somerset has been postponed owing to unresolved legal issues. Symphony Healthcare Services, a subsidiary of the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, currently manages these seven surgeries across four contracts within the South Somerset West primary care network (PCN), alongside other surgeries in the region.
In July 2025, Symphony expressed its intention to merge these four contracts into one, aiming to expand the range of services available across all seven sites. This proposal received approval from the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) in November 2025, with the merger initially scheduled to take effect in mid-January.
However, Symphony Healthcare Services has since announced a delay in the merger rollout. The postponement is attributed to unexpected complications in legal processes beyond the provider’s control. The merger is now expected to be completed later this year.
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The South Somerset West PCN includes the following GP surgeries: Ilchester Surgery and Buttercross Health Centre share a contract, as do Martock and South Petherton surgeries. All practices have maintained a ‘good’ rating following Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections.
Under the new arrangement, the surgeries will operate under the banner ‘Symphony South Healthcare’ while retaining their individual names. Symphony has issued a formal apology to patients on its website, explaining the delay and emphasizing that there will be no immediate changes to clinical or administrative staff at any location.
Patients will not be required to re-register or transfer their care to another practice. Appointment processes will remain unchanged, with priority given to those with the greatest need.
A Symphony spokesperson stated: “The extended delay allows us to finalize legal requirements and gives our teams additional time to foster relationships, develop roles, and support ongoing programmes aimed at enhancing patient care. We regret any confusion or inconvenience caused and thank patients for their understanding.”
Patients are encouraged to continue contacting their surgeries as usual. Further updates will be provided closer to the implementation of the merger.