Reeth Medical Centre: plans confirmed for continued healthcare provision in Reeth
Further update (July 2026)
Since this article was first published in April 2026, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has issued a further update on healthcare provision in Reeth.
The existing GP contract at Reeth Medical Centre ended on 31 May 2026 following the retirement of Dr Mike Brookes. However, arrangements are now in place for Central Dales Practice to continue providing healthcare from Reeth through a branch surgery.
The latest information indicates that GP appointments will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with nursing provision also available on Wednesdays, subject to final arrangements being completed.
Most patients are expected to transfer to Central Dales Practice and will continue to be able to access appointments in Reeth as part of the wider practice network. Patients are being sent individual letters explaining their registration arrangements and available options.
Central Dales Practice has also confirmed that it took over Reeth Medical Centre as planned on 2 June 2026. Patients can contact the practice on 01969 667 200. The practice has said appointment arrangements remain as previously outlined, with further details expected as the new arrangements continue to be established.
These developments are a positive step towards maintaining local access to healthcare and provide greater certainty following months of uncertainty for patients. However, people are continuing to raise questions about travel, continuity of care, dispensing arrangements and how the new model will work in practice.
Healthwatch North Yorkshire will continue to follow developments, gather feedback from local people and share updates as further information becomes available.
Previous update (May 2026)
Plans for a new branch surgery in Reeth have now been approved. This would provide local access to healthcare after the current GP contract ends, although services would be available on certain days only.
The existing GP contract at Reeth Medical Centre was due to end at the end of May 2026 following the retirement of Dr Mike Brookes. The NHS approved plans for Central Dales Practice to provide healthcare from Reeth through a branch surgery arrangement.
The NHS said it had explored options to try and find another provider, but no suitable alternative was identified at the time.
Patients would be registered with GP practices in the area, with most expected to transfer to Central Dales Practice.
The NHS also confirmed that it would write to patients with information about what would happen next and how they could continue to access healthcare.
For many people, the news of the closure came as a shock and raised understandable questions about what would happen next.
However, there were further developments.
Update: plans for a Reeth branch surgery
The NHS confirmed that plans for a branch surgery in Reeth had been approved.
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board approved the application from Central Dales Practice.
Patients would be registered with Central Dales Practice, with plans for a branch surgery in Reeth, subject to suitable premises arrangements being secured.
The branch surgery was intended to help maintain local access to healthcare following the end of the existing GP contract.
Current plans indicated that:
- GP appointments would be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Nursing provision would also be available on Wednesdays.
- The branch surgery would be run by Central Dales Practice, supported by Richmondshire Primary Care Network.
- Most patients were expected to transfer to Central Dales Practice.
- Temporary arrangements could be put in place while longer term premises arrangements were finalised.
On days when the branch surgery was not operating, people might still need to access healthcare in Hawes, Aysgarth or elsewhere within the Central Dales Practice network.
The concerns people are telling us about
Healthwatch is hearing how these changes could affect people's ability to get the healthcare they need. Although plans are now in place for healthcare to continue in Reeth, many of the questions and concerns people raised when the closure was first announced have not gone away.
These concerns are also reflected in a community survey carried out by the Healthcare Alliance for Reeth Community, which received responses from more than 75% of households in the area and included feedback representing more than 1,200 people.
Travel and distance
One of the biggest concerns people continue to raise is how they will access healthcare if services are only available in Reeth on certain days of the week.
Some people could still face longer journeys to see a GP, particularly on days when the Reeth branch surgery is not open. For those without access to a car, getting to appointments may still be difficult.
A community survey carried out by the Healthcare Alliance for Reeth Community found that around 22% of patients said travelling beyond Reeth for medical care would be very difficult or almost impossible.
Short notice and communication
People have told us the closure was announced on social media with very little notice, just before a bank holiday period. This left little opportunity to ask questions, understand what the changes would mean, or seek advice before the existing arrangements came to an end.
Many people said they wanted clearer and more timely communication throughout the process, particularly as further announcements and updates were made.
Impact on older people and those without transport
Many patients are older, living with long term conditions, or need regular care. Although healthcare will continue in Reeth, travelling further for appointments on days when the branch surgery is closed may not be realistic for everyone.
The survey also found that 38% of people aged over 75 live alone, which can make travelling to appointments or collecting medication more difficult without local support nearby.
For people who rely on family, neighbours or community transport, even relatively short additional journeys can become a significant barrier to accessing care.
Access to medicines
The practice currently provides dispensing services, which are particularly important in rural areas. People are concerned about how they will get their medication if local arrangements change.
The NHS has said it expects dispensing arrangements to continue through Central Dales Practice, although people are still asking for clearer detail about how this will work in practice.
The survey found that around four in five households currently collect their medication directly from the surgery, highlighting how important local dispensing arrangements are for many people living in the area.
The wider role of the practice
The surgery supports urgent care, end of life care, and visitors to the area. People have highlighted how important it is to have these services locally.
For many people, particularly in a rural community such as Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, the practice is much more than somewhere to attend appointments. It plays an important role in supporting people to access healthcare close to home, particularly when travelling longer distances may not always be practical.
What the NHS says
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has published information about the future arrangements, including answers to common questions about patient registration, branch surgery arrangements and access to healthcare in Reeth.
Healthwatch response
Being registered with another GP practice is not the same as being able to access healthcare easily.
In a rural area like Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, distance, transport and the availability of local provision all affect whether people can realistically get help when they need it.
The approval of a branch surgery in Reeth is a positive step, but people may still have questions about how the new arrangements will work in practice.
Mr Ashley Green, Chief Executive at Healthwatch North Yorkshire, said:
“On paper, being registered with another GP practice sounds straightforward. But for many people, it’s not that simple. If you’re older, living with a long term condition, or don’t drive, travelling further for appointments can quickly become a real barrier.
People have told us the announcement felt sudden, and that they have questions about what will happen next and what it means for them.
This isn’t just about where people are registered. It’s about whether they can realistically get to appointments, pick up medication, and get the help they need when they need it.”
Ongoing discussions
Discussions about the future of healthcare provision in Reeth are continuing.
Meetings involving local councillors, NHS representatives, Central Dales Practice and community representatives have taken place as plans continue to develop.
North Yorkshire Council has also arranged a meeting of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Steering Group. The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment looks at whether local communities have appropriate access to pharmacy and dispensing services. The Steering Group advises the Health and Wellbeing Board, the partnership responsible for improving health and wellbeing across North Yorkshire.
As Reeth Medical Centre previously operated as a dispensing practice, the group will consider whether the changes have created any gaps in local pharmaceutical provision and whether a supplementary update to North Yorkshire's Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment is needed.
People are also awaiting further information from patient letters and future updates from the NHS regarding registration arrangements, premises and local provision.
Things are moving quickly, which is positive. However, people still need clear and consistent information about what these changes will mean in practice.
Healthwatch will continue to follow developments and share what we hear from people affected.
What needs to happen next
People are also asking for clearer information about things like home visits, urgent care, continuity of care, and how dispensing arrangements will work in practice.
Healthwatch and people locally have said it is important that:
- People are given clear, timely information about what will happen next.
- The NHS looks at how people will actually get to appointments, not just where they are registered.
- Practical support is in place for those who may struggle to travel.
- The impact on access to medicines and local support is fully understood.
- People are told clearly where the branch surgery will be based and how it will operate.
- Ongoing feedback from local people continues to inform future arrangements.
Healthwatch will continue to gather feedback and share what we hear with those responsible for NHS care.
