As Cockermouth's two doctors' practices at the community hospital are due to merge, its GPs have put out a plea to patients to use its pharmacy service.

The opening of the Castlegate pharmacy at the £11 million hospital caused controversy, as it is owned by the doctors. 

People were worried that it would take business away from existing town dispensaries.

Eighteen months after the hospital opened, Derwent and Castlegate surgeries are relaunching the pharmacy and have put a call out to people to support it. 

Dr Kinghan, of Derwent surgery, said: "Using the pharmacy helps support your surgery and subsidise the costs of our new health centre.

"We have taken your feedback on board as we relaunch the pharmacy and dispensary.

"As the surgeries merge, the pharmacy and dispensary shall be co-located but will operate as one entity.

"This means that the 100 hours a week opening and delivery service will be available to all.

"The pharmacists are on hand to offer advice about minor ailments, and will soon point you in the way of the doctors and nurses if required."

Derwent and Castlegate surgeries announced their plans to merge earlier this year following the resignation of two doctors at Derwent Surgery.

By merging they will have 17,200 patients, creating one of the largest practices in Cumbria.

Dr Kinghan said: "It’s a busy time but we, as your GPs, are committed to providing the best quality patient care available, despite the current troubles in the NHS. 

"To this end we have decided to come together as surgeries so that we can offer more services and better quality of care to our patients.

"We already have a service offering 24-hour ECGs to detect heart rhythm problems, 24-hour blood pressure and health checks, but our vision extends further.

"But we can’t do it without your support."

 BLOB Letters - Page 2x