Three practices in Somerset are to become subsidiaries of the local hospital trust in a complex arrangement aimed at integrating primary and acute care, it has been reported.

The practices will remain partnerships – but their partners will be “nominee” doctors on the board of a new company, wholly owned by Yeovil District Hospital.

The area of south Somerset has been running a Symphony project as part of an NHS England backed drive to find new ways to link primary and acute care.

The new company known as Symphony Healthcare Services is set to take over the practices this week, according to the Health Service Journal.

One practice is owned by two GPs who are about to retire, one is jointly owned by local GPs who are also partners in other practices and the third is owned by another private company. Together they have 12,500 patients on their lists.

According to sources in Somerset, another six practices could become part of Symphony Healthcare Services.

Other practices in the district are to become co-owners of a second organisation South Somerset Primary Healthcare, which will work closely with Symphony.

Symphony programme chair Dr Berge Balian told the journal: “Some are having recruitment difficulties, or are feeling that they are struggling to provide the services or need to be in a bigger organisation.

“Some have made the strategic decision that the future of general practice is not the partnership model.”