The future of GP services in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale has been secured after NHS officials signed a lease for Reeth Medical Centre.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has signed a five-year lease for the centre, enabling Central Dales Practice to operate a branch surgery from the site.
Services will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with a GP initially available on two days.
The agreement follows concern from residents and local representative over the long-term future of GP provision in the area following the announcement that Dr Mike Brrokes, who runs the surgery with wife Marie, was to retire at the end of May.
Local campaigners and councillors had previously raised concerns that a plan to transfer patients to the Wensleydale-based Central Dales Practice could cost lives, unless a surgery was maintained in the Reeth area.
Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak today (TUESDAY) welcomed the annoucement that a deal had been agreed.
He said: “This will come as a great relief for patients across Swaledale.
“From the beginning, the local community made clear how important it was to retain a GP service in Reeth and I am pleased to see that all parties have worked together to secure a solution.
“I want to thank Central Dales Practice, the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, Cllr Yvonne Peacock MBE and the wider local community for the work they have undertaken to help secure the future of this vital service.”
Local politicians and community groups got involved after it was annouced that the centre would close at the end of May and all patients would need to travel to Wensleydale to access services.
The NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, which oversees health commissioning in the region, has faced criticism that it did not do enough to maintain GP services in Reeth.
