Dear Patient, *__* _Forthcoming changes at West Wight Medical Practice_ You may be aware of some of the forthcoming

changes at West Wight Practice. Dr Marshall is retiring very soon and Dr White is leaving us to ta e on different medical roles. !he three remaining doctors have been see ing new "Ps to #oin them with little success and now feel that in order to manage the $$,%%% &atients of the &ractice a fresh loo at how services are &rovided will be needed. Drs !homson, Magee and Wal er have as ed '() *ngland, who contract for the services at the &ractice, to organise a new service for general medical care locally. !he three Doctors are een to continue to be involved but feel they need some hel& to secure the future of the "P services for this &art of the +sland. We are not alone in finding it difficult to recruit new "Ps, other &ractices both locally and nationally are finding similar difficulties. We will shortly have su&&ort from a female "P and are of course grateful to the locums who hel& us to ee& our service running. We have ada&ted our services over the years to manage the change in the "P wor force and have introduced nurse &ractitioners and e,&anded the roles of our nurses and healthcare assistants. -ur system of tele&honing &atients who re.uest doctor hel& means that we can normally see those who need to come in .uic ly. We do now need to ma e some further changes to hel& us to continue to &rovide safe and effective services while the new service is secured and we are writing to see your su&&ort and understanding of these changes as the Doctors will have to manage their resources carefully. Part of this consolidation will regrettably mean that we have to close Yarmouth )urgery tem&orarily with effect from Friday /0 March /%$1. +f you have any .uestions &lease write in or use our Website www.westwight&ractice.co.u 2htt&344www.westwight&ractice.co.u 45 and we will answer you as soon as we can. We as that &atients do not use health consultations to discuss these changes as that would slow down the service for everyone. What can you do to hel&36 * +f you need general health advice &lease consider using your &harmacy or the $$$ )ervice. * +f you have a .uery which relates to a referral to a hos&ital service, &lease ring the hos&ital number 7)t. Mary8s switchboard 9 :/1%0$; and as for the relevant service or secretary. * +f you ring for doctor8s advice on your medication, &lease ee& your drugs and4or a list of them by the tele&hone. Doctors and staff of the &ractice will continue to &rovide you with high .uality care and to &rovide full services from our Freshwater site. <s commissioners of &rimary care services, '() *ngland and the '() +sle of Wight =linical =ommissioning "rou& 7+-W =="; are wor ing together with the Practice, to secure services in West Wight for the future. Yours sincerely Drs !homson, Magee, Wal er, Marshall > White