The future of the premises in the village of Kirkoswald was uncertain following the retirement of the building’s former GP, who also owned the property. The acquisition will ensure that the practice remains part of the healthcare estate and could continue serving people in the village in the north of Penrith.
NHSPS and Cumbria ICB worked together on the acquisition so local people could continue to receive care without disruption. The property acquisition was completed the same day the existing GP retired, and the incoming GP team began at the practice the day after.
Charlie Moore, transaction manager at NHSPS, said: “We’re delighted to have brought this acquisition to a successful conclusion. Not only does it mean securing continued delivery of healthcare for local residents; it means keeping an important asset within the healthcare estate.
“NHSPS was uniquely placed to make this acquisition possible. Its successful completion reflects close collaboration across the Investment Management, Strategy, and Delivery teams within NHSPS, working alongside the estates team at North East and North Cumbria ICB.”
Ben Gammer, estate strategy lead for NHSPS North, said: “Protecting buildings like Kirkoswald GP practice is an important part of our wider neighbourhood health agenda and ensuring the NHS estate supports accessible, joined-up care in the communities it serves.
“By keeping this practice in NHS use, we have ensured local access to care and supported the government’s 10 Year Health Plan ambition to shift more care from hospitals into neighbourhoods, closer to people’s homes. It also gives services in this rural community a more secure foundation for the future.”