THE medical practice in Bannockburn is set to come under independent management.

NHS Forth Valley, which needed to step in after the practice experienced recruitment issues in 2015, this week announced that the Forth Medical Group will be taking over.

Operators of the group already manage three GP practices in Lanarkshire and two in Ayrshire.

Bannockburn is one of three practices coming under new management from health board the other two being in Sauchie and Grangemouth.

Dr Stuart Cumming, NHS Forth Valley’s associate medical director for primary care, said: “Transferring the management of these three practices back to GPs is a very positive development which will provide long-term sustainability, continuity of care for local patients and release resources which can be reinvested by the Health Board to develop local services.”

The move follows a tender process and the health board, which always aimed to transfer practices back into independent hands, says all staff will be eligible to transfer to work with the new group.

Dr Usman Rehman, of the Forth Medical Group, added: “We are looking forward to working with the existing staff and other local health and social care professionals to provide a high standard of primary care services to the patient population across the three practices.

"We are also keen to explore opportunities to develop new and innovative services tailored to the needs of the local communities.”