People in Windermere and Bowness must have access to a reliable GP practice - MP

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has urged local NHS commissioners to intervene to make sure that patients in Windermere and Bowness have access to a reliable GP practice ahead of a crunch meeting to decide the future of Goodly Dale surgery.

Last month OneMedical Group, the provider of the GP practice, announced they would be handing back their contract to Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Tim said: "It is unacceptable that 5,500 local patients could be left with no local doctor.

"There was always a risk that Goodly Dale would close after the Conservatives increased privatisation in the NHS. One Medical Group Ltd - the private company who run Goodly Dale and have left patients in the lurch - made a profit of £1million last year.

"That is why the new GP practice must not be another private company who could just do the same thing all over again.

"I've spoken to the CCG to press the need for them to provide that local, reliable GP service for patients in Windermere and Bowness."