A GP service for about 4,000 patients at a surgery on the outskirts of Norwich is set to continue after a caretaker practice was appointed to take over from October.

Coastal Villages Practice, which has been providing medical care to patients in the Great Yarmouth area for many years, has been awarded a contract to provide GP and practice nurse care at Beechcroft surgery in New Costessey – on an interim basis – from October 1.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney aims to find a permanent provider of primary medical services at Beechcroft within a 6-12 month period.

The future of the surgery was thrown into doubt earlier this year, after the Taverham Practice, which runs Beechcroft alongside another surgery in Taverham, said it did not have enough partners or doctors to continue providing a service in the long-term.

The practice launched a consultation, but agreed to continue running Beechcroft until the end of September so that another provider could be found to take over. From October 1, the practice will be based solely at Taverham Surgery.

Coastal Villages Practice partner, Dr Mark Newstead said: 'We felt that we would be able to offer what the patients wanted and were delighted when the PCT awarded us the caretaker contract.'

david.bale2@archant.co.uk