Patients at a closure-threatened north-east GP practice will be transferred to another surgery.
Bosses at the Deveron Medical Practice in Banff announced in October it would be ending its contract with NHS Grampian after a recruitment drive for a new doctor failed.
The surgery has around 6,300 patients and was due to hand back its contract to the health board at the end of April.
Now, however, it has emerged that from May 1, patients at Deveron Medical Practice will join those already registered with Macduff Medical Practice.
The combined practice will also move into the purpose built medical centre on Fife Street in Banff which is currently home to Deveron.
Staff will also make the switch.
Last night, Mark Simpson, partnership manager for Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) hailed the move.
He said: “I am so pleased that we have been able to secure future provision of primary care services for the populations of Banff and Macduff.
“The project board has been working hard behind the scenes to look at all available options and I really am delighted that we have been able to secure this outcome for the community.
“I would like to thank the partners at the Macduff practice and everyone who has worked on this. What a great way to start the new year.”
Dr Iain Brooker, a partner at the Macduff Medical Practice, said it was important for them to take on the extra patients.
He said: “As partners we have had many, many discussions about how to accommodate the extra patients while not compromising the service we currently deliver.
“We all feel a great deal of warmth and responsibility to the people of the area and we could not standby and do nothing while people in our community were worried.”
