A LAKE District village's GP surgery looks set to close in the new year.

Partners at Central Lakes Medical Group say "with regret" they are applying to close the "old-fashioned" branch surgery from January 1, 2019, because of concerns over staffing, funding, and lack of facilities at the Field Foot building.

The group is reassuring patients its Ambleside and Hawkshead surgeries are safe. It is holding a public meeting on Wednesday, October 17, at Grasmere Village Hall, at 7,30pm, to explain the closure to patients.

Partner Dr Kaye Ward said Grasmere surgery has been compared to "Dr Kildare's waiting room" in the 1960s TV drama with its wicker chairs, tiled fireplace and dried flowers.

"It's really, really old-fashioned, so not Care Quality Commission-compliant," said Dr Ward, explaining there was only space for a single GP, leading to safety concerns about lone working, while basic facilities meant even a simple blood test could not be carried out.

Grasmere's two weekly afternoon surgeries have not been held for almost a year because of staffing issues, said Dr Ward. Prior to that, only four per cent of Central Lakes Medical Group's total number of appointments took place there.

Partners are working with NHS England and Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group to focus staff and funding on Ambleside and Hawkshead. Dr Ward said it was hoped the impact on Grasmere would be "minimal". Home visits to housebound patients will continue, and the village pharmacy will still offer flu jabs and prescriptions for minor ailments.

Lakes parish councillor Vivienne Rees said the proposed closure had been discussed by Grasmere Village Society, with most members concluding "the impact wouldn't be all that great".

Cllr Rees said people liked having a surgery in Grasmere "for sentimental reasons" but Ambleside health centre was only four miles away, with a bus stop outside.

"For years it's been nice having a surgery in Grasmere but it's not viable any more really," she added.