THE future of a Windermere medical practice has been secured after a healthcare organisation was awarded a permanent contract to run it.

The continued existence of Goodly Dale health centre in Windermere had been in doubt after Leeds-based company OneMedical gave notice on its contract.

In February, Cumbria Health on Call (CHOC) was awarded a temporary six-month contract by Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group to run the site after efforts to provide a long-term provider proved unsuccessful.

But the surgery's long-term future was today secured, with CHOC now set to run it on a permanent basis.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron, who has campaigned to keep the surgery open, said he was 'over the moon' with the news.

“From the regular conversations I’ve been having with CHOC, I know how hard their team has been working to provide first-class care for local patients," he said.

“There had been some pressure on the CCG to close the surgery and disperse the patient lists to other surgeries in the South Lakes, so I’m really grateful that they’ve listened to local residents, local councillors and myself and have secured the future of Goodly Dale.”