FOUR GP surgeries in Bicester will close in plans to run all their services under one roof.

Tens of thousands of patients will be forced to go to a new 'super surgery' on the edge of Bicester as health bosses are proposing to create two new 'health hubs'.

Alchester Medical Group made the announcement yesterday that Langford medical Practice, Victoria House Surgery, Montgomery-House Surgery, and Ambrosden Surgery will all close.

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The Bicester Health Centre, the only other local GP practice, will stay at its current site at Coker Close and has plans to expand there.

The plans have all been overseen by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) – the board of county GPs who decide how NHS cash is spent in Oxfordshire, including on GP surgeries.

Dr Will O’Gorman, a GP partner at Montgomery-House Surgery and clinical director at the OCCG’s local group, said: "The solution we have found will allow us to provide an even better service for our current patients and the many extra ones that are on their way.

"We must take action now and I firmly believe this new structure of local primary care provision for Bicester will work well and be a model of modern healthcare that we can all be proud of."

It comes as a response to growth in Bicester as housing developments are expected to bring up to 30,000 new patients in coming years.

Langford Medical Practice and Victoria House Surgery first joined forces under the Alchester Medical Group title in 2016, but announced their intention even then to one day operate under the same roof.

Yesterday's announcement confirmed Montgomery-House Surgery and Ambrosden Surgery will be joining them.

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The new 'health hub' is expected to open in 2022, but it has not yet been decided where exactly. The announcement said the hub will be on the 'edge of Bicester'.

The OCCG has already said it is considering sites at Coker Close, Kingsmere and Graven Hill.

This newspaper has previously reported residents' concerns about moving almost all the surgeries in the town to one area, potentially leaving many patients struggling to reach appointments.

Speaking of the community hospital and Graven Hill as site options, town councillor John Broad said: “Both are to the south of Bicester and neither is easy to get to other than by car.

“The community hospital has a major car parking problem already and with the London Road crossing plus all the jams around the Rodney House roundabout area would be a nightmare for a Graven Hill hub – both are not logical.”

The councillor said the plan would go against all 'eco town' efforts to get fewer people driving and force patients to drive to appointments.

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Health bosses say there is 'simply no more space' for growth with Alchester Medical Group and Montgomery Surgery, and the new hub will save some patients from travelling to Oxford or Banbury.

The announcement said it recognised that some patients would have to travel further for appointments following the changes but said the sites currently being considered had 'very large provision for car parking' and promised the group would explore additional transport needs for patients.

Dr Toby Quartley, a GP partner at Alchester Medical Group and chair of the local federation of GP practices, said: "We’re delighted that at last we can share our vision on the future for doctors’ surgeries in and around Bicester.

"This announcement puts an end to doubt and helps protect Bicester’s patients and GP services far into the future.

"Bicester will be getting a more dynamic, upgraded healthcare service with patients getting more of their treatment closer to home."

Health bosses said there will be a public meeting for patients to have their say in the near future.