AN AT-risk GP surgery which serves 7,700 patients will remain open after doctors cancelled plans to pull out of running services.

Patients at Cogges Surgery in Witney have been told to expect 'business as usual' after the practice team agreed a deal to stay on.

Dr Sandra Hallett, senior partner, said: “We are delighted that the future of Cogges surgery is secured.

"We are hugely grateful for the support and loyalty of our patients and staff over the past few months."

In July, the team had announced plans to hand back their contract after failing to recruit enough partners.

But they changed their minds in October after finding a new partner, Dr Kirsty Shepherd, and submitted an application to continue running the surgery.

This has been accepted by the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG), which buys health services for the county's residents.

Julie Dandridge, head of primary care at OCCG, said: "We are delighted that the existing practice team at Cogges Surgery in Witney will continue to provide primary care for patients.

“We know this has been an unsettling time for patients and we will be writing to them to confirm that they don’t need to do anything. It will be business as usual; they can stay registered with the practice and continue to benefit from the services provided there."

Rosa Bolger, Labour councillor for Witney East, said it was 'wonderful news' that showed what can happen when a community comes together to run a grassroots campaign.