Whitestone Surgery Update

Patient Letter – Whitestone Surgery 6th March

The following information should help to provide you with some answers to questions you may have. 

Q) Why is the surgery closing? 
A) Changes had to be introduced to how GP services were delivered at the surgery in 2024, following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

To ensure that patients did not see a disruption to their care, NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), who plan and pay for health services in the area, introduced a caretaker provider to provide services to patients of the Surgery, while the CQC processes were taking place. 

The CQC registration has now been cancelled, which means that the previous contractor is no longer able to deliver General Practice services. This means that the ICB has had no choice, but to find a permanent solution for delivery of GP services for the registered patients of Whitestone Surgery.   

We have worked closely with our NHS partners and the other local GP practices to consider the next steps, including finding a new permanent provider for GP Services from the Whitestone Surgery building. The ICB has written to the property owner but has been unable to assure that the Whitestone surgery premises will continue to be available. This means that the use of the Surgery building is not a viable option.

Although we have looked for other suitable sites in the immediate area, the only other clinical building in the vicinity is the, Whitestone Clinic, which is fully occupied by the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust with no capacity for additional clinical services.

This means that we have had to take the difficult decision to close the practice on Friday 24th April 2026. 

Prior to making this decision a quality and equality impact assessment was undertaken to understand the potential impact to patients of this decision. This showed that there are eight GP Practices available, within three miles of Whitestone Surgery, as well as other practices across Nuneaton & Bedworth dependent on patient catchment. Many of these are on regular bus routes or within a short drive.

Q) Have you tried to get new GPs in to keep the surgery open?
A) Coventry and Warwickshire ICB and neighbouring GP practices have worked closely together to try to find a solution to continue to provide safe patient services at the practice. 

We have explored every option to keep the surgery open, including whether another practice could run services from the building, but following a full risk assessment of the current premises, we have concluded that we are unable to secure the current building for future use.  

Q) Why can’t the current provider of services continue to run the practice?
A) The provider of General Practice services at Whitestone Surgery was appointed on a temporary basis in January 2024, to ensure continuity until the conclusion of the CQC process with the previous provider.

We cannot extend this contract, and we have been unable to secure the current surgery building for delivery of General Practice services moving forward.

Q) What is happening to the staff at the practice? 
A)  The staff that currently work at the surgery are employed by the caretaker practice, who have been delivering services since January 2024, which is run by the Coventry and Rugby GP Alliance. They will all be redeployed to other roles within that organisation.

Q) What is happening to the premises? 
A) The practice premises is owned by the previous contract holder and not by the NHS. This means that the building will no longer be in use as an NHS facility and the decision for its use will be with the owner of the building. 

Q) Will I still be able to make an appointment at the surgery?
A) Yes – please continue to contact the practice as normal and you’ll be able to make an appointment to see a doctor or a practice nurse until Friday 24th April.

Q) Will I have to change GP practice? 
A) Yes, because the practice is closing you will need to register with a new practice. 

All patients registered at Whitestone Surgery will be receiving a letter confirming that the practice is closing on Friday 24th April. The letter will ask you to register with another practice close by and will include the contact details for practices in the area that are accepting new patients.

Q) How do I register at a new GP practice? 
A) The easiest way to register at a new GP practice is online by visiting the NHS website or NHS App

If you can’t use online registration, you can visit Whitestone Surgery where staff will be available to assist you. Between Monday 9th and Friday 20th March dedicated staff will be on hand in the surgery to support with new registration queries and forms. 

Q) How are you supporting vulnerable patients? 
A) Additional support will be put in place for patients who may find it more difficult to register with a new GP practice. This may include personalised contact, help with registration, and ensuring continuity of care for those with complex health needs.

Q) What happens if I do nothing?
A) You need to register with a new GP as soon as possible.  

If you do not register with a new GP practice by 23rd April 2026 you will be automatically registered into a new local practice. Details will be sent to you after 23rd April. 

Q) Will the new surgery have my patient record? 
A) Once you have registered with a new GP practice, your records will be safely transferred from Whitestone Surgery to the practice you have registered with. You will also receive notification telling you that this has taken place.

Q) How do I know which practice to choose?
A) There are a number of practices within a few miles of Whitestone Surgery. If you have access to the internet, you can put your postcode into the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/service-search to find your nearest GP surgeries. 

As well as finding your nearest practices, you can find out lots of information to help you choose. This includes Number of GP and other clinical staff, Practice opening hours, services offered, and NHS user rating.

You can choose to register with any practice that is currently accepting new patients if you live within their boundary area. A map showing GP practices currently accepting registrations can be found in the dropdown below. 

You can also see all GP practices in and outside Warwickshire at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp. You should note that you may not be able to register with a practice if you live outside of their practice catchment area. The practice will be able to advise you of this.

Q) What if I’ve got an existing appointment, or need to make one, before I’ve found a new practice?
A) If you have booked appointments at Whitestone Surgery with a GP or nurse prior to changing your GP practice you should continue to attend these.  Alternatively, if you need to book a new appointment before you have registered with a new practice, you can contact Whitestone Surgery as usual on 02476 641911 until it closes on Friday 24th April. 

Q) My prescription is due in the next few weeks – should I move practice immediately?
A) You should speak to your GP Practice about any advance medication that you may require to see you through until you are registered with a new practice.  Once you have registered with a new practice your prescriptions will be managed by the practice and your patient records will transfer automatically. It is important that you register with a new GP practice immediately to avoid any delay with your prescription during this time. 

Q) Will I still receive reminders about monitoring my long-term health condition? (for example; diabetes, chronic obstructive airways disease, hypertension and asthma)
A) You will continue to receive reminders about your on-going care for your condition as soon as you have registered with a new practice. Once your medical records have been transferred to the new practice the monitoring process will continue with minimum disruption. 

Q) Will I receive a reminder about vaccinations and immunisations?
(for example; flu vaccination and childhood immunisations)
A) You will continue to receive information about vaccinations and immunisations that are due. As soon as you have registered with a new practice and your GP records have been transferred to the new practice. Your records will be updated accordingly as part of the national immunisation programme.  

Q) Will I continue to receive notification of any health screening required? (for example; cervical, breast or bowel screening) 
A) You will continue to receive information about any screening that is due, as soon as you have registered with a new practice and your GP records have been transferred to the new practice. Your records will be updated accordingly as part of the national screening programme.  

Q) Will my District Nurse, Community Psychiatric Nurse or Health Visitor change as a result of changing GP practice? If so how will the treatment plan transfer?
A) Depending upon which GP practice you decide to register with and as soon as your GP records are transferred across to the new practice the relevant community services will continue to be provided with the new GP practice. This could mean that you will see a different health care professional.

Q) Will there be a delay in consultant letters or results from blood tests, x-rays etc getting to the appropriate GP? 
A) There should not be a delay with consultant letters, blood test results or any other tests that you may have recently had. 

Q) I have been referred to hospital. Will I need to be referred again by my new practice? 
A) No. The hospital will communicate with you directly about your appointment. When you next go to hospital you should let them know who your new GP practice is. 

This will ensure that letters are sent to your new practice in future. 

Q) Can I contact someone if I have any other queries? 
A) If you have any other queries about the closure of the practice or registering with a new GP practice, you can call Whitestone Surgery on 02476 641911 or visit the surgery to talk to their team. Alternatively, you can email us on cwicb.whitestonesurgery@nhs.net

Q) I have now moved GP practice. How do I request my repeat medication?
A) When changing GP practices, your repeat prescriptions do not automatically transfer. When you register with the new practice, they may review your medication. It is recommended to have at least 2–4 weeks of medication from your old GP before moving, and you may need to re-link your NHS App or online services to the new practice. 

Key Steps and Information

• Registration: Apply to a new practice via the NHS website or in person.
• Medication Review: The new GP may review and authorise your repeat prescriptions before you can order them, especially for complex medication.
• Order Ahead: Request a supply from your old GP before your registration closes there.
• NHS App/Online Access: After changing, you will likely need to re-register on the NHS App or use a new linkage key (provided by the new practice) to access your new record and order meds.
• Electronic Prescription Service (EPS): Ensure you set your new "nominated pharmacy" for collections. 

Everyone in England can register with a GP surgery or change their GP surgery for free. You can register with most surgeries online.

Register or change GP surgery online or using the NHS App

You can register with a GP surgery or change your current GP surgery online using the NHS website.

To register online:

1. Enter a post code or use your location to look for GP surgeries in the area you want to register.
2. Choose a surgery you want to register with that offers online registration.
3. Fill in a registration form. This takes about 15 minutes for each person you want to register.

You should be told when you have been registered. It will usually be within 5 days of the surgery getting your details, but it may take longer.

Find a GP to register with.

If you have the NHS App, you can use it to change GP surgery.

You'll be asked to agree for some of your details to be shared with the new GP surgery.

You must already be registered with a GP surgery to use the NHS App.

Log in or open NHS App Create an account

You do not need to tell your current GP surgery if you're changing. They'll be told automatically once you're registered with your new surgery.

Other ways to register with a GP surgery

You can also register or change GP surgery by:

• going to the surgery you want to register with and filling in a paper form
• downloading the register with a GP surgery paper form, filling it in and taking it to the surgery you want to register with
• filling in a form on the surgery's own website (only offered at some surgeries)

Overview of all local GP Practices 

Overview of GP Practices North of Whitestone Surgery

Overview of GP Practices South of Whitestone Surgery

You can view the driving routes to the nearest GP practices here

Bus services from Whitestone are primarily operated by Stagecoach Midlands, with routes 73, 73A, 56, and 74/74A providing regular, direct connections to Nuneaton town centre and Bulkington. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes.

Key Services & Details:

• 73/73A (Stagecoach): Connects Whitestone Fairway to Nuneaton Bus Station.
• 56 (Stagecoach): Travels from Coventry to Nuneaton via Whitestone.
• 74/74A/74C (Stagecoach): Services connecting Whitestone to Nuneaton and surrounding areas.
• 56 (Stagecoach): Travels from Nuneaton Bus Station through Whitestone (Purcell Avenue/Marston Lane) to Bulkington (Nuneaton Road) and on to Coventry.
• 74/74A/74C (Stagecoach Midlands): Connects Nuneaton to Bulkington, serving the Whitestone area, with routes often continuing to University Hospital or Coventry.
• 73/73A (Stagecoach): Connects Whitestone Fairway to Nuneaton Bus Station.
• Frequency: Generally, a bus runs every 20-30 minutes during peak times on weekdays, with reduced services in the evenings and on weekends.
• Key Stops in Whitestone: Typical boarding points include Purcell Avenue, Marston Lane, and near the shops/Golf Drive.