Rishi Sunak has praised those involved in maintaining GP services in Reeth after the village’s long-standing medical practice closed earlier this year.
The Richmond and Northallerton MP visited Reeth Medical Centre to meet Central Dales Practice managing partner Lynn Irwin and representatives from University Hospitals Tees, which has secured a five-year lease on the building.
The arrangement has allowed Central Dales Practice to operate a branch surgery from Reeth following the retirement of long-serving GP Dr Mike Brookes and his wife Marie, the practice manager.
The couple stepped down at the end of May after almost 20 years serving communities in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. Attempts by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) to find another provider to take over the original GP contract had been unsuccessful.
Central Dales Practice subsequently developed plans for a branch surgery, with University Hospitals Tees securing the premises through a five-year lease. The hospital group said in June that the arrangement formed part of wider ambitions to provide neighbourhood health services in the Dales.
Mr Sunak said: “It was important to me that every possible option was explored when we were told the practice was going to close.
“Lynn came forward with a practical solution, and I am very pleased that Central Dales Practice is now providing GP services from Reeth again.
“I want to thank Lynn and her team, University Hospitals Tees, the ICB, Councillor Yvonne Peacock and everyone else who worked hard to make this happen.
“It is particularly important for people in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale to have access to healthcare close to home.”
Around 1,500 former Reeth patients were transferred to Central Dales Practice following the closure, with a smaller number transferred to the Friary Surgery in Richmond.
The branch surgery reopened in June, initially providing services three days a week.
During his latest visit, Mr Sunak also heard about proposals to increase the range of community healthcare available across Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and the wider Dales.
These include support for housebound patients and opportunities to provide more specialist services locally, reducing the need for people living in remote communities to travel for care.
