A SOUTHAMPTON surgery that was closed to patients for three years due to the Covid pandemic is set to reopen.

Solent GP Surgery in Portswood will reopen next week, but patients will not be able to book a GP appointment.

The Belmont Road surgery closed three years ago when Solent NHS Trust loaned the site to assist in the fight against Covid.

The closure caused anger and frustration among patients who were forced to travel to the Solent GP sites in Adelaide and Nicholstown.

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Residents said they struggled with the distance they had to travel for appointments and other issues such as parking while the Portswood site was closed.

Solent NHS Trust has announced that the surgery will reopen on Monday, May 15, but said that they will only be offering practice nurse and HCA appointments.

This will include blood test appointments, dressing changes, injections, childhood immunisation, and smear tests.

All GP appointments will remain at Adelaide and Nicholstown.

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In a letter sent to patients, Solent GP Surgery said: "We are pleased to announce that from Monday, May 15 2023, Solent GP Surgery will be starting a limited, phased return to Portswood.

"Initially we will only be offering practice nurse and HCA appointments.

"All GP clinics will remain at Adelaide and Nicholstown for the time being.

"Along with a national shortage of GPs, the main reason for this is that the building at Portswood has given good service and is now also well-loved.

"Some parts of the site need a bit of attention and work done to allow us to open the site wider for more appointments to be offered and for it to be fully staffed.

"We are working with Solent NHS Trust to complete this work as soon as possible."

They added: "We thank you all for your ongoing patience over the last three years and as we work to restore Portswood to full capacity.

"We look forward to welcoming patients back to the site in the next few weeks."