Village's new GP service welcoming first patients
GoogleA village's new GP service is welcoming patients for the first time.
Coniston, in the Lake District, had been trying to attract a doctor for more than a year, and in May it was announced services had been saved by an agreement with a neighbouring provider.
Cumbria Health Limited has taken over the running of the service within Wraysdale House, which will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays rather than the previous five days per week.
Patients will also be able to access the group's other surgeries, including those in Hawkshead and Ambleside, on any weekday if they need to be seen urgently.
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board previously said the changeover followed "a period of uncertainty".
Dr Katharina Frey and Dr Ahmed Abbas announced they would hand back their contract to the NHS from last summer due to Frey's retirement and the practice being unable to recruit a new partner.
Patients warned they would face an hour's round-trip by car to the nearest full-time surgery in Ulverston if no replacement was found.
The service, which has about 1,000 registered patients, had been run on a caretaker basis by Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative.
The practice could eventually move into Coniston's visitor information centre as its current home is deemed no longer fit for purpose.
Discussions have been taking place with the Lake District National Park Authority, which runs the centre on Ruskin Avenue.
