Surgeries saved after doctors take on the contract
Mole Valley Liberal DemocratsGP services will continue at two surgeries in Surrey after doctors working at the practice decided to take on the contract.
Services at Molebridge GP Practice, which has surgeries in Fetcham and Leatherhead, were thrown into doubt after operator Aspire Medical Health announced plans to exit its contract with Surrey Heartlands NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB).
It has now been announced that Dr Eleni Mantzari and Dr Anna Barham have taken on the contract, with some short-term support to be provided by Dr Hilary Floyd who retired from the practice last summer.
A spokesperson for Surrey Heartlands ICB said the "transition to the new arrangements is now well under way".
Chris Coghlan, MP for Dorking and Horley, and Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell, requested a meeting with the ICB after it emerged that the services were at risk.
News of the reprieve has been met with delight by Mr Coghlan, who is pleased that a "relatively swift solution has been reached".
"I will be meeting with the Integrated Care Board to ensure this situation never happens again," he added.
Caroline Joseph, a patient at the practice and Mole Valley district councillor, said: "It's a huge relief to know that we're going to be able to retain the service, but hopefully that it will also improve."
The ICB spokesperson said: "We believe these arrangements will help address some of the feedback we have heard and signal a new chapter for the practice.
"Our immediate focus now is on supporting the practice with the practical areas needed to facilitate this change."
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