KELVEDON could see two of its GP surgeries merge in an effort to improve their finances.

Partners from Brimpton House Surgery and Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre, both based in the High Street, met to discuss the proposal, which still needs to be discussed by their commissioning body, NHS England.

In a statement published on their website, Brimpton House Surgery, which has 2,686 registered patients, said: “We would like to inform all patients of the proposed merger with Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre in July 2016.

“At this moment in time we are in discussions with Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre, NHS England and the Clinical Commissioning Group. We will keep you informed on progress in the New Year.”

Brimpton House Surgery has clinics specialising in diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease and anticoagulation.

Lynda Hampel, practice manager of Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre, which has 4,986 registered patients, said: “This is for the ongoing provision of GP and medical services in Kelvedon.

“We have got partners at both sites who got together and talked about this, it was at ground level and not enforced upon us.

“We are based very close together on the High Street and it seems the most sensible thing to do to be able to provide services and offer an enhanced range of services.

“At the moment we probably offer different services.

“This is in the initial stages but I can’t see why it would be a problem.

“We would want to include our patients in this and the location is still to be decided.

“There are lots of mergers across Essex because of finances.

“The discussion is in the hands of NHS England because we are commissioned by them to provide GP services in Kelvedon.”

Carolyn Larsen, Head of Commissioning for NHS England (East) said: “NHS England can confirm an initial application has been made to merge Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre and Brimpton House Surgery.

“However before any merger can take place the two GP practices would need to undertake a thorough engagement process with patients and stakeholders to find out what their views are.

“Following this the outcome of the engagement will then be presented to NHS England which will make a decision on the proposal for merger.”