Practice News

Important Update: Practice Merger

We are pleased to share that The Willows Medical Practice and The Drive Surgery will be merging following formal approval from North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB).

📅 Merger Date: 1st July 2026

We would like to thank all our patients and Patient Participation Group (PPG) members for your valuable feedback and support throughout this process. Your input has helped shape our plans and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our community.

 

What This Means for You

✔️ You will remain registered – no action is needed
✔️ Both practice sites will remain open
✔️ patients will be offered an appointment as usual and can continue attending at their own preferred site
✔️ Improved access to appointments
✔️ A wider range of services available to you

💬 Have Questions? Come and Talk to Us

We understand that you may have questions or concerns about the merger — and we’re here to help.

👉 We will be holding a patient drop-in session where you can speak directly with our team, ask questions, and share any concerns.

📢 Details of the drop-in session will be published here on our website soon — please keep an eye out for updates.

 

Looking Ahead

This merger is an exciting step forward, allowing us to strengthen services and improve access for all our patients.

We will continue to keep you informed every step of the way.

Working Together to Protect and Improve Your GP Services

Willows Medical Practice and The Drive Surgery, 68, The Drive Ilford IG1 3HZ are carefully exploring the possibility of working more closely together in the future. At this early stage, this is only an exploration, and patient care remains our absolute priority.

We would like to reassure all patients that no immediate changes are being made at Willows Medical Practice.

What is being considered?

The practices are considering a potential practice merger, which would mean working together as one GP practice while continuing to provide NHS care from both existing surgery buildings.

This is a well-established approach within the NHS to help GP services remain stable, safe, and sustainable for the future.

Why are we exploring this option?

Working together could help us to:

• Maintain safe, high-quality patient care
• Ensure consistent staffing levels
• Provide better support during busy periods
• Reduce disruption caused by staff shortages
• Improve long-term resilience and stability
• Continue to meet NHS standards and expectations

What will stay exactly the same?

• Both surgery buildings will remain open
• Patients will be able to access service at their current surgery but will be registered at the newly merged practice
• No action is required from patients
• Medical records will not change
• Appointments will continue to be booked in the usual way
• NHS care will remain free of charge

What might change in the future?

Any changes would be introduced slowly and carefully, with patient experience at the centre of all decisions.
Possible future developments may include:

• Sharing some doctors, nurses, and support staff
• Using shared systems behind the scenes
• Aligning ways of working across both sites
• Offering appointments across both locations where this benefits patients

What happens next?

Patient and PPG feedback will be carefully considered before any final decision is made.
We will keep patients fully informed of any outcomes or next steps.

A message from the GP Partners

“Our priority has always been, and will remain, providing safe, high-quality and compassionate care to our patients.
We are exploring this potential merger carefully and responsibly to ensure GP services at Willows Medical Practice continue to be stable, accessible and well supported for the future.
Patient care, continuity and safety are at the heart of every decision we make.”

The GP Partners, Willows Medical Practice

---