A NEW initiative has been launched to help doctors maintain the “excellent” standard of healthcare services available at a local GP surgery.

Waterloo House Surgery Patient Participation Group has started holding monthly drop-in sessions to help build transparent relationships between the GP practice and residents across Millom.

The group has been a valuable asset to the practice for a number of years but is now hoping to take its work a step further by creating new opportunities for people to have their say.

Cllr Felicity Wilson, chairwoman of the Patient Participation Group, explained how the group will hold drop-in sessions once a month to get feedback from patients and hopes the process will lead to even better care.

She said: “It just gives us chance to talk to people and this is the first time we’ve done this to listen to people’s suggestions on how we can improve things at the practice.”

The first session held at the surgery on Monday was deemed a success, with a number of important points being raised.

Part of the aim is to help people with particular issues still access the same level of care and volunteers are hoping to bridge the gap between patients with problems and the practice.

Cllr Wilson explained: “There might be issues such as the fact we operate over two floors and don’t have a lift but you can ask to be seen downstairs.

“It’s about seeing how we can best use our facilities and experience.”

In addition to allowing the PPG to uncover any potential issues, Cllr Wilson stressed that the idea is to help support the surgery, which she believes does an excellent job for the community.

She said: “The doctors and nurses and support staff all work very, very hard, sometimes in cramped conditions, but have always maintained a professional delivery of excellent healthcare.

“I think we are very, very fortunate. We have got a great practice and we want to do all we can to be supportive of it and communicate with patients and help them understand what things are available and how we can work together to improve things.”

With around 8,500 people living in Millom, the practice plays a pivotal role in the community, being the only GP practice for miles around.

Determined to help preserve this vital service, Cllr Wilson is hoping the drop-in sessions will help alleviate the pressure.

She said: “The practice is absolutely vital to this community because the nearest practice north is Seascale and the next practice south is probably Broughton.

“For a town of this size it’s imperative that we have a doctors’ surgery.”