NHS funding has been restored to allow GPs in Millom, Ambleside and Hawkshead to treat minor injuries.
In May, service commissioners Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board decided to stop providing enhanced provision for assessment and treatment of minor injuries at GP practices.
Instead, people were advised to go to their nearest urgent treatment centre at Kendal or Keswick, or A&E in Barrow or Lancaster.
Westmorland & Lonsdale MP Tim Farron wrote to the integrated care board and raised the issue with government ministers at Parliament.
Mr Farron said a recent letter from the board’s acting chief executive Sam Proffitt said funding would be restored to surgeries where patients had the greatest travelling distances and times to access alternative services.
Funding has been restored to Central Lakes Medical Group in Ambleside and Hawkshead and Waterloo House Surgery in Millom.
She wrote: “At the time concerns were received about the potential impacts on local hospital services and it was agreed to monitor the situation.
“Subsequently further concerns were received from the local community about the loss of the service in Millom, and it was agreed that a further clinical review would take place.
“This review has been completed, and it has now been agreed that those practices whose patients have the greatest travelling distances and times to access alternative services will be able to offer a range of appropriate minor treatments as part of their existing wound care services.”
Mr Farron said: “I’m very glad to see this vital service return to GP surgeries in Ambleside, Hawkshead and Millom. I’m grateful to the board for listening to the significant concerns of local residents and choosing to restore the funding in these places.
“However, I remain concerned that patients in rural areas such as Windermere and Grange are not able to get minor injuries treated at their local GP practices.
“I will continue to make the case to the board to restore this service in full so that people can get the care they need closer to home.”
Cumbria Crack has contacted the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board for comment.
