Emergency drop-ins will be scrapped at Maryport’s only doctors’ surgery from next month as bosses tackle a funding crisis.

All patients will have to make appointments with Maryport Health Services from February 6 as the twice-daily drop-in service ends.

But spokesman Dr Dan Berkeley assured patients that people in urgent need would still be seen and the surgery had employed a paramedic practitioner – thought to be the first in a Cumbrian doctors’ surgery – to assist with home visits.

Two nurse practitioners have also been provided, and the cancellation of the drop- ins means more appointment times will be available, Dr Berkeley said.

He added NHS cuts had reduced the surgery’s budget by the equivalent of two full-time GP posts.

The surgery serves 16,000 patients and Dr Berkeley said the drop-ins were, on occasions, used by 150 people in a day. This led to them being extended on the day and extra staff having to help with them, creating a knock-on effect for appointment times.

Dr Berkeley said: “The cuts result in long waits for appointments, and make it difficult for us to spend the amount of time we would like helping our patients.

“Under the new system patients may now be asked some basic questions about their condition by receptionists who are

bound by the same confidentiality rules as doctors and nurses.

“If they need urgent medical attention they will see a clinician on the day. This could be a nurse practitioner, who is qualified to treat certain medical conditions without the supervision of a doctor, including writing prescriptions.

“Our nurse practitioners are best suited to dealing with new problems that need to be dealt with urgently, and our paramedic is best suited to seeing unwell patients at home.”

He added that the paramedic could also help out in the surgery.

Receptionists would not assess which cases were urgent, he added, but who was best to deal with the patient.

Presently emergency clinic patients can wait up to 90 minutes to see a doctor.

Dr Berkeley said the change to appointments only should reduce waiting times. As part of the new system, appointments will now be available six weeks in advance for non-urgent or ongoing problems.

Dr Berkeley said: “Many patients will find it easier to get appointments under the new system.”