Dorset's chief medical officer says the merger of two Weymouth GP practices 'can only be of benefit' to its patients.

Dorchester Road Surgery and Royal Crescent and Preston Road Practice are set to merge in April.

Reasons for the merger are to allow for a more efficient use of resources and skills and to improve recruitment. 

It comes at a time when pressures on the health service, in particular GP practices, are extremely high. 

The Echo has previously reported that practices in Dorset had the second longest wait time for an appointment across England.

Dr Paul Johnson, chief medical officer for NHS Dorset, said: "The health and care sector is extremely busy at the moment. Anything practices can do to ensure their service is providing sustainable, high quality, timely care to patients is positive.

"Merging these practices will provide an excellent opportunity to combine resources, helping with recruitment of new staff as well as sharing valuable skills and knowledge. This can only be of benefit to patients.

"If patients have any questions or concerns, the practice have created some FAQs which can be accessed in the practice and online."

Patients of both practices were invited to attend the event at Weymouth Rugby Club in order to find out more about the upcoming changes to the practices.

On Tuesday, March 12, more than 100 people came to the event to have their questions answered on the merger.

Staff from the surgeries, along with patient participation group representatives and NHS Dorset were on hand to answer questions and address any concerns that people had.

Patients were told the merger won’t change their ability to see their usual doctor or nurse, and appointments will be made in the same way they already are.

The opening hours of both surgeries will also remain the same and it will bring together the individual practice systems into a single system, which all patients will be automatically transferred into, along with their health records.

Dr Emma Casson, GP Partner at Dorchester Road Practice added: “A great deal of thought and planning has gone into this merger to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

“It will offer many benefits to patients and our practices alike. It will mean we can combine skills within our GP and nursing teams, and hopefully be more attractive to recruiting new clinicians, making us more sustainable.”