Minor injury service reinstated at GP surgeries

Ambleside Health Centre is one of three GP practices which will continue to treat minor injuries

Patients at three GP surgeries will once again be able to receive treatment for minor injuries after cuts to the service were reversed.

The service will be reinstated in Ambleside, Hawkshead and Millom in Cumbria after patients complained when they were closed on 1 May.

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it made the change at practices from where patients would have had to travel long distances to reach an urgent care service.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron welcomed the decision but called for more GP surgeries to also keep the service.

"I'm grateful to the ICB for listening to the significant concerns of local residents and choosing to restore the funding in these places," he said.

"However, I remain concerned that patients in rural areas such as Windermere and Grange are not able to get minor injuries treated at their local GP practices."

'Listen to locals'

The closures were made after the ICB carried out a review of its local services and decided minor injuries could be managed through self-care and facilities such as NHS 111 and pharmacies.

Patients were also told they may have to travel to their nearest urgent treatment centre in Kendal or Keswick, or A&E departments in Barrow or Lancaster.

But, after concerns were raised by residents a further clinical review was carried out.

The ICB said it would now make an exception for GP practices whose patients would have to travel more than "10 miles and 30 minutes" by car to reach an urgent care service.

"The ICB has ambitions to be an organisation that learns along the way and to do this, it recognises it is necessary to listen to local communities to ensure the right healthcare systems are in place," a spokesperson said.