MP cuts ribbon on new home for Haverthwaite GP surgery

Yesterday, local MP Tim Farron officially opened the new temporary home for Haverthwaite GP surgery, following a campaign to keep the practice open.

Back in August, Haverthwaite Surgery was served with an eviction notice from its landlord.

A petition started by Tim, was signed by more than 1,400 local residents, called on the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to accept a bid from the surgery to relocate to a new premises.

The surgery has moved into a residential property next to the A590, which has been converted into a temporary GP practice for the next three years whilst a new permanent surgery is built next door.

Tim said: “I was absolutely delighted to open the new home for Haverthwaite GP Surgery.

“This was only possible because the local community and the fantastic staff at the practice were so determined to fight to make sure that residents weren’t forced out of the area to see a GP.

“I’ve been proud to get alongside them and today we see the fruits of all that hard work – patients continuing to be served by this excellent practice.”

Sarah Edwards, Managing Partner at Haverthwaite GP Surgery, said: “We are very grateful to the local community and our local MP for helping us with the long process to relocate.

“There was a lot of work that went into persuading the ICB that would allow us to survive.

“I also want to put on record my thanks to the Head of Primary Care, Sarah Bloy who worked tirelessly to get our re-location through the various committee meetings and mandatory care board procedural processes.

“As a surgery rated one of the top 40 in the country out of over 6000 surgeries nationwide we are very grateful to have survived to be able to continue delivering excellent healthcare to our patients.”