Patients in the Yorkshire Dales have been asked to remain patient as delays continue in efforts to re-establish a branch medical service in Reeth
Central Dales Practice said it was still awaiting access to Reeth Medical Centre, despite having staff, equipment and services ready to operate from the premises.
The practice said the situation was beyond its control, adding that it had already put arrangements in place to provide GP and nursing cover at Reeth throughout June and July.
Because access to the building has not yet been secured, staff have instead been relocated to Aysgarth Surgery.
The Reeth premises are set to be taken over by the Wensleydale-based Central Dales Practice, which will operate the site as a branch surgery three days a week.
It comes after Dr Brookes and his wife Marie, who ran the centre for 17 years, the practice manager, departed on May 31.
Central Dales said in a statement that they understood the inconvenience and disappointment the delay was causing patients, but stressed they had done everything possible to prepare for the launch of services in Reeth.
“Setting up a branch site in the timeframe that was imposed upon us was tight, but we were ready and had everything in place,” the statement said.
The practice said it had recruited additional staff, purchased extra medications and equipment, and increased clinical cover in preparation for opening the branch service.
“We are ready to go. We just need access,” the statement added.
Patients who require prescriptions are currently able to collect medications from Aysgarth, where dispensing services are continuing.
Central Dales acknowledged that the current arrangements were not ideal for patients or staff. It said relocating clinics and accommodating additional services within existing practices had proved challenging, but staff were working together to minimise disruption.
The statement concluded: “Please stay patient and bear with us a little longer.”
Reeth Medical Centre is owned by the Brookes, with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the process of securing a lease for the building to allow use by Central Dales.
