FOLLOWING a period of uncertainty, the future of the Marybrook Medical Centre in Berkeley is now secure.

The practice has undergone a great deal of change since last year, when three doctors retired and the old GP partnership ended.

But it has now been announced that the Culverhay Surgery in Wotton under Edge has been awarded the contract to provide primary care services in Berkeley from next year.

The development means that services currently available at the Marybrook Medical Centre in the town are secure for the long term.

Director of Primary Care at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Helen Goodey said: “The award is the culmination of a lot of hard work and will safeguard the long term future of GP surgery services in Berkeley for the benefit of local residents.

"We would like to express our gratitude to Church Street Medical Practice for stepping forward in autumn 2018 and providing services on an interim basis after the previous partnership at the Centre came to an end.

"This move supported continuity of service, provided stability for patients and the existing Marybrook practice team and has helped pave the way for this longer term solution.

"We are confident that with their substantial experience in general practice, professionalism and dedication to patient care, the team at Culverhay Surgery will provide great leadership and work extremely well with current members of the Marybrook practice team.”

The contract will take effect by 1 April 2020 and all parties will be working hard to ensure that the services and care patients receive are not affected by the change.

Senior partner at Culverhay Surgery, Dr Richard Probert said: "We are absolutely delighted with the news and are confident that we can work as a single practice team with the existing Marybrook staff to offer a great service to local residents.

"We look forward to having a permanent surgery presence there and immersing ourselves into the local community.”