Seven medical centres across Somerset are set to merge in the coming months to provide more choices for patients and deliver a consistent, high-quality level of care. Symphony Healthcare Services, which currently manages seven GP surgeries within four separate contracts in the South Somerset West primary care network (PCN), will formally combine these contracts to offer an expanded range of healthcare services across all seven sites.
A subsidiary of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Symphony Healthcare Services is awaiting approval from the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), which allocates health funding county-wide. The decision is expected by the end of September.
The South Somerset West PCN includes the following GP surgeries: Buttercross Health Centre, Ilchester Surgery, Martock, and South Petherton, with Ilchester and Buttercross sharing one contract, and Martock and South Petherton similarly paired. After recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections, all these practices maintain a ‘good’ rating.
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In a letter to patients dated July 29, shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the GP surgeries highlighted that merging contracts would formalize ongoing collaboration among their teams. Over the past year, the practices have been working more closely to support workforce resilience and implement innovative approaches improving patient experience.
In December 2024, a central contact hub was launched to manage all incoming phone calls efficiently, followed by the establishment of a community investigation hub handling vital tests related to secondary care. More recently, an acute hub was created to triage patients requiring same-day urgent appointments, enhancing timely urgent care access.
These hubs and new working methods have streamlined administrative processes, reduced duplication, and facilitated the sharing of best practices. Formalizing the contract merger will unify team efforts further by enabling a shared medical record system across all sites. This integration will empower patients to access any service at any of the seven locations, including specialized services such as dermatology and women’s health.
Under the proposed changes, patients will remain registered at their current practice but gain the flexibility to book appointments or utilize healthcare services across all sites.
Public consultation is open until August 25, allowing patients to share their views on these proposals via www.hamdonmc.co.uk/sswpcn-proposal/.
The NHS Somerset ICB has pledged support for Symphony Healthcare Services throughout this process. A final decision on the merger will follow the consultation period, with the strategic commissioning committee set to review related patient and staff feedback in September.
A spokesperson for the ICB stated: “We are committed to supporting Symphony Healthcare Services in delivering the best possible healthcare to Somerset residents. The potential merger plans will be thoroughly evaluated, considering engagement with patients and staff to optimize future service delivery.”