Plymouth's Mayflower GP group secures long-term future

The Mayflower group is responsible for supplying GP services for nearly 40,000 people in the city

A new provider will take over a group of Plymouth GP surgeries next year.

Fuller and Forbes Primary Care group will run the Mayflower practices on a 10-year contract from 1 April 2024.

Livewell Southwest has been running the sites on a temporary basis since 2022, after the previous provider chose not to bid for a new contract.

Director of commissioning at NHS Devon, Jo Turl, said there would be "minimal disruption to patients and staff" when the handover took place.

The Mayflower group covers five sites in Plymouth and is responsible for supplying GP services to nearly 40,000 people in the city.

The practice, which had an inadequate rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) during its previous incumbency, rose to a rating of 'good' while under Livewell Southwest.

'Service as usual'

Ms Turl said NHS Devon were "extremely grateful" to them for running the practice until a longer-term solution could be identified.

She said: "We are working closely with Dr Fuller and Mr Forbes of Fuller and Forbes Primary Care Group and the current provider to ensure a smooth transition in the handover. Patients do not need to take any action and should continue to access the service as usual."

She added that the new plan would provide "much more stability for the future."

Dr Mark Fuller said: "Our experience in delivering high quality primary care provides an opportunity to add value to the services currently being delivered. We believe that the core of GP services is the provision and protection of face-to-face appointments."

The current arrangements with provider Livewell Southwest are due to come to an end on 31 March 2024.

Staff at the five sites have been assured that their employment would be transferred in the takeover and that they have a key role in the future of the service.

Follow BBC News South West on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]