GP practices are set to be split over two sites in a Staffordshire town after local residents backed the move.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust carried out a three-month consultation exercise.

It started in August and ended on November 9, with people asked about their preferred health centre site options in Burntwood. More than 2,500 people responded to the consultation carried out with Lichfield District Council. Residents were given the opportunity to discuss proposals.

Their views were used to find the preferred choice of where eight local GP practices should be relocated.

The results confirmed that there was support for the preferred site option of Greenwood House and Burntwood Leisure Centre.

Jim Barlow, head of primary care commissioning, said: “We are very pleased that so many individuals and groups participated in the consultation and responded to our request for their views.“Through public meetings, door-to-door questionnaires, on-street consultations and direct written correspondence we gained vital feedback which is informing the decision making process regarding the future location of the GP practices.

“The results of the consultation have now been considered by the PCT trust board whose preferred options concurred with the views of the residents of Burntwood. The final business case is being put together which will be presented to the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority for their consideration for approval.

“Once a final decision has been reached, the new facilities will be designed as multi-purpose buildings, providing an extended range of health and other care services.”

The preferred option is to put six GP practices at Burntwood Leisure Centre and two at a site at Greenwood House. Another option was for six based at a site in Robin’s Road, next to Morrisons Supermarket, and two at Greenwood House and the final option was for all eight in a building at Robin’s Road.