A HEALTH centre is set to close its doors next month after a merger with another surgery.

Waterside Health Centre in Infirmary Street, Blackburn will be closed from Tuesday, April 3.

The 1,831 patients currently registered with Waterside will be automatically transferred to Bentham Road Health Centre in Blackburn, nearly two miles away.

It follows the merging of the two practices, with all care to be provided from the larger practice at Bentham Road, which currently has 5,138 patients.

Health chiefs said patients will have the option to register in GP practices elsewhere, but campaigners expressed concern the move would cause 'disruption' for patients.

Russ McLean, East Lancashire's patients' champion, said: "I am disappointed on behalf of patients about the closure, some of whom would have been going to Waterside for numerous years.

"This will mean uprooting patients and could cause disruption, especially for elderly people who may find it difficult to travel to a new GP practice. "

The merger comes after the current five-year contract to provide services at Waterside and Bentham Road is due to end in April.

NHS England and Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group invited providers to apply for the contract as part of a joint procurement for GP primary care services to be provided at one or both of the current sites.

After a full procurement process, the successful provider is Cornerstone Healthcare CIC, who currently provide primary care services to both Bentham and Waterside Health Centre patients.

Cornerstone's successful bid was to provide care for registered patients from the larger premises at Bentham Road only, which means the two practices will merge and all care will be provided from Bentham Road.

Katie Stanton, practice manager at Cornerstone Healthcare CIC, said they recognise that the relocation of Waterside GP services is a 'disappointment to some'.

She said: "Cornerstone Healthcare CIC has been serving patients at Bentham Road since 2009 and we’ve been caretakers of the Primary Care services at Waterside for the last 18 months. We recognise that the relocation of Waterside GP services is a disappointment to some, but we’re really excited about this opportunity to create more sustainable services for our patients. Our established team of staff are ready to welcome the Waterside patients to Bentham Road Health Centre and to continue providing them with excellent healthcare."