Eight GP surgeries in south Bucks want to stop providing some services – from ear syringing to heart checks – due to “increasing workloads pressures”.

The practices wrote to Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) requesting to stop seven different services, including blood pressure monitoring and ECGs – which are used to check the heart’s rhythm.

The surgeries that would be affected are Burnham Health Centre, Denham Medical Centre, The Ivers Practice, Southmead Surgery, The Allan Practice, The Hall Practice, The Misbourne Practice and Threeways Surgery.

However, The Allan Practice, in Chalfont St Peter, only plans on cancelling five of the services – continuing 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and spirometry, which helps monitor and diagnose lung conditions.

A report published by Management in Practice -a news source for GP surgeries – said the practices wrote to the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Local Medical Committee in December 2018, announcing they want to stop providing the services by August this year.

A statement released by the CCG said it is “very aware” of the demands on GP practices, so reviews are being carried out across local healthcare providers.

CCG spokesman, Neil Phillips, said: “We hope to find a way forward with the eight practices in South Bucks that will help us to continue to meet the healthcare needs of our population as fully as possible.

“The services in question will still be able available to patients but possibly through other local providers.

“It is to be expected that some GP practices may be reviewing services they have previously provided in light of the new GP contract and the changes anticipated as they set up primary care networks.

“We would expect this situation to be reflected across other CCGs nationwide and that similar reviews will be taking place in other areas.”

All of the services the surgeries requested to discontinue are: Ear syringing, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, spirometry for diagnosis, ring pessary, PSA monitoring,  MGUS monitoring and ECGs.