A Lake District village will continue to have access to a GP practice following an agreement to open a branch of a neighbouring practice in the area.
People living in Coniston will have access to a branch site of Central Lakes Medical Group, part of Cumbria Health, when it opens on July 1.
The decision was made after successful negotiations between local service provider Cumbria Health Limited and the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
It follows a period of uncertainty after the contract to provide services at Coniston Medical Practice was handed back to the ICB following the retirement of local GP Dr Katharina Frey.
A procurement exercise failed to identify a willing bidder to take over the long-term provision of services in the village, which have been temporarily maintained on a caretaker basis by the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative.
The opening of the branch will ensure general medical services remain in the village.
Craig Harris, chief commissioning officer at the ICB, said: “The people of Coniston were clear to us from the start. They wanted a service to be available in the village, as it had been for many years, and it has been our desire to deliver that from day one.
“It took us some time to get to where we are now, but I am really pleased that we can make this announcement that GP services will continue to be available in the village for the years to come.
“I would also like to thank the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative for stepping in to support patients during this interim period.”
Andrew Woodhead, practice manager at Central Lakes Medical Group, part of Cumbria Health, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support the continuation of GP services in Coniston and help maintain local access to care within the village.
“As part of Cumbria Health, we are committed to supporting sustainable primary care services for rural communities and we look forward to working closely with patients, staff and local partners as we become part of the Coniston community.”
On 30 June, all patients of Coniston Medical Practice will be dispersed to Central Lakes Medical Practice or their nearest practice, which will assume responsibility for the around 1,000 patients currently registered.
Patients transferred to Central Lakes Medical Group will be able to access services at any of the Group’s sites, as well as a newly opened branch surgery in Coniston.
The service will continue to be provided from the current Wraysdale House premises until a suitable alternative premises can be developed.
Proposals on how the service will operate are still being finalised, however it is anticipated the branch site will be open three days a week in Coniston.
Patients will be able to access all Central Lakes Medical Group sites, including those in Hawkshead and Ambleside, should they have an urgent need when the branch site is not available.
