Two Exmouth GP practices, Claremont Medical Practice and Rolle Medical Partnership, have announced they will join forces.

They plan to complete their merger by 1 April 2024.

The practices said patients can expect to see their usual clinicians and access care as normal, and they "do not anticipate any immediate changes".

A joint statement reads: "This collaboration enables us to pool our resources, expertise, and knowledge, resulting in better access to care, improved services, and a more efficient healthcare system for all our patients.

"At present, both practices will continue to operate from their current locations. In the future, you may have more flexibility to access services at any of our sites.

"There are no immediate plans to change the opening hours of either practice. If any changes are made in the future, we will ensure patients are informed.

"We do not anticipate any immediate changes to the appointment booking process.

"Your medical records will remain confidential and secure. The merger will not affect your personal information or your access to your records.

"There will be no immediate changes to the way you order and collect prescriptions. If any changes are made in the future, we will inform patients.

"The referral process will remain the same. We will continue to refer patients to appropriate specialists and healthcare providers as needed.

"We are excited about the potential of this merger and the opportunity to provide even better care to our patients."

Both Rolle Medical Partnership and Claremont Medical Practice are located at Exmouth Health Centre on Claremont Grove. They also have several branch surgeries between them.