Bid to find new provider to run Coniston Village Surgery

The NHS will launch a procurement exercise aimed at finding a new provider to run Coniston Village Surgery.

Drs Katharina Frey and Ahmed Abbas, who run the surgery at Wraysdale House in the village, have announced that, from 1 August 2025, they will hand back to the NHS their contract to provide general medical services at the practice. This is due to the retirement of Dr Frey and the practice being unable to recruit a new partner.

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), which organises healthcare services for the region, has confirmed that, having considered all the options available and taking into account the feedback and comments received from local people, the ICB intends to open a procurement exercise to find a new provider to manage the service.

Peter Tinson, director of primary and community commissioning at the ICB, said: “I would like to thank everyone who provided valuable comments and insight during our recent public engagement exercise.

“We have listened to the feedback and, having ascertained that there are potential alternative providers that may wish to come forward during a procurement, we are pleased to announce we will be going out to try to identify a new provider for the service.

“Our priority is and always has been to maintain a high-quality primary care service that is accessible to people in the village and the surrounding areas.”

The surgery will continue to operate as it does now until 31 July 2025. From 1 August 2025, a caretaker will be appointed to run the service and this will continue to be from the current premises in Wraysdale House. This means the location of the service will remain the same for the time being, however there will be a change in personnel managing and providing services from the practice.

Details of who that caretaker organisation will be have not yet been confirmed, however there are interested parties prepared to step in and manage the service on a temporary basis until a permanent contract can be procured.

Procurement of a provider for general medical services is likely to take between six months to a year. Patients and the patient participation group (PPG) will be engaged with as part of this process. While the process is ongoing, patients will continue to be able to access services from the current premises in the same way they are currently used to.