HEALTH officials have urged thousands of patients who are still registered with a North Oxford surgery which is closing down to sign up elsewhere.

North Oxford Medical Centre will shut at the end of this month because of retirement and other changes which make the practice no longer viable.

At present, nearly 4,500 patients are registered with the Woodstock Road medical centre.

NHS bosses have urged them to register with another GP to make sure they have uninterrupted access to a doctor.

Ginny Hope, head of primary care commissioning for NHS England’s Thames Valley area team, said: “It’s really important that patients register elsewhere now, so that if they become ill, they are registered with a GP practice and can be seen quickly.

“It also means that their new GP practice will have their medical records. We are working with North Oxford Medical Centre and other GP practices locally to ensure the smooth transition of patients to new practices.

“Our concern is that if patients do not re-register, their medical notes will be archived and will not be as readily available as they would be if they were held by a new GP practice.”

Dr Robert Mather is retiring from the practice, while Drs Helen Steel, Karen Howie and Evelyn Sanderson are moving to other surgeries.

Nearby GP surgeries include the Summertown and Jericho health centres.

To register with a new surgery, patients should visit the practice of their choice and complete a form.

Identification, such as a passport or driving licence, is required.

A planning application has been submitted to Oxford City Council to turn the surgery back into a house.

And residents have called for a new medical centre to be built when the Diamond Place car park in Summertown is redeveloped.

Dr Mather, who has been a GP for 33 years, said: “It is essential for the continuity of their medical care that our patients do re-register.

“All the other practices in the area have indicated they are ready and able to take on new patients.

“There won’t be any services provided here from the end of November, so if someone doesn’t re-register, they would need to do so before seeing a GP.”