A SURGERY which faced imminent closure is reopening its practice doors to patients this month.

Parklands Surgery in Askam was under threat after the practice’s sole GP, Dr Prakashchandra Jain, announced plans to retire in March 2020.

Health officials unanimously recommended patients ‘dispersed’ onto other local practices in February after failing to find a suitable replacement for Dr Jain, who owns the practice.

However, hopes were renewed in April after an offer by Duddon Valley Medical Practice was conditionally accepted to take over the building.

The surgery is now due to open to patients on Monday February 15 after undergoing a refurbishment.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, welcomed the long-awaited news.

He said: "It’s great to have an opening date for the new surgery in Askam.

"Everyone has worked so hard to get to this stage, especially Dr Wilson and all the fantastic team at Duddon Valley Medical Practice.

"It’s been clear since we started this campaign back in February last year that Askam and Ireleth needed to maintain a local GP surgery and I’m delighted that we’re at the stage to be announcing an opening date for the new team.

"I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation work at the surgery building being completed for Monday’s opening."

Cllr Ben Shirley, Barrow Borough and Cumbria County Councillor and co-chair of the Save our Surgery Group said he was 'over the moon'.

He said: “Last June the previous GP retired after many year’s service to our community.

"Since then, more than eight months of blood, sweat and tears have gone into our campaign to save our surgery.

"At times it did feel like we might never get to this stage, but we’ve all stuck in and I’m over the moon that the new team will be opening the practice doors to patients once again in Askam from next Monday.

"I want to thank everyone involved who made this happen: Mr Harry Barker, Dr Wilson and Katherine Wilson and all of their team at Duddon Valley Medical Practice, Askam and Ireleth Parish Council, Simon Fell MP, the Lancashire LMC, the CCG and my colleagues in council (Sam Ronson and Daniel Edwards) for all of their hard work and dedication in making this happen.”