A doctor's surgery that was facing an uncertain future will remain open, it has been confirmed.

Orchard House in Lydd, which serves more than 4,000 people, has been run by a group of four GPS since 2019, when previous leader Dr Selina Swann stepped down.

But earlier this year the group decided to shut down the service at the surgery after Friday, April 30.

The Kent and Medway Clinical Commisioning Group (CCG) reassured patients there were "no plans for the surgery to close" and said it was "an absolute priority" for a new provider to be appointed.

The CCG has now confirmed that Invicta Health will take over the surgery in two days time, from Saturday, May 1.

The CCG said it received a "number of applications" to take over, before it decided on Invicta, which also runs Birchington Medical Practice in Thanet.

There will be no change to the opening hours, website address or telephone number at Orchard House and patients will be able to continue to access the site as they do now.

A spokesman for NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group said: "The CCG wrote to all patients last month to inform them that Orchard House Surgery in Lydd will be run by Invicta Health from May 1.

"There will be no immediate changes to the opening hours, website address or telephone number and patients will be able to continue to access the site as they do now.

"The CCG would like to thank all patients who took part in the virtual meetings and online survey about the future of the practice."

A spokesman for Invicta added: "Invicta Health are delighted to confirm that we will be taking over delivery of the care for the Orchard House practice from 1st May 2021."

Cllr Clive Goddard, district councillor for Denge Marsh ward, said it was brilliant news.

He said: "This is excellent. It's brilliant news that we won't be losing any more care on the Marsh.

"The next step would be for a major health centre on the Marsh, but that is down the line."

Read more: All the latest news from Romney Marsh

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