The contract for the provider of GP and medical care at Lyme Regis Medical Centre is due to expire in January, with no plans yet in place for its successor.

Patients are being reassured that no services will stop at Lyme Regis Medical Centre when changes are introduced to primary care.

NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is in discussions with the current provider, Virgin Care, to continue providing the service on a temporary, fixed term contract beyond the end of its current contract in January.

The CCG is developing plans for the future of the practice, ensuring primary care services will continue at the premises under new arrangements next year, but no formal procurement process has been started yet.

Patients registered with the practice have received letters from the CCG with more information on its plans and details of an upcoming engagement event run by the CCG for people to ask any questions they have.

More events will take place as plans progress to ensure patients are up to date.

Staff at the practice are being supported by their current employer, Virgin Care, and the CCG and will be kept up to date with the plans as they develop.

Dr Blair Millar, locality chair and GP, said: “While the running of Lyme Regis Medical Centre will change next year, there are currently no plans to discontinue services at the centre. With this in mind, we are advising patients that they do not need to register with another practice.

“This does not change the direction of plans being developed by all west Dorset practices to provide resilient primary care services within the area, and to ensure continuity of care for Lyme residents.

“We are keen to manage a seamless transition for patients at the practice and to ensure the sustainability of primary care services throughout Lyme Regis and the rest of west Dorset.”

Community services based at the site, which are also currently managed by Virgin Care, will be put out to tender.

Staff and patients will be kept informed of developments