After a long wait for the Isle of Cumbrae, the NHS have confirmed that Dr Adnan Malik is the new permanent GP for Millport - with another set to follow.

Dr Malik, who has been providing a locum service for the island’s residents for two years, now has plans to develop his practice with the appointment of a further GP.

The GP service is already complemented by a team of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP) who started on the island in June 2014.

The six-strong team provide care between 8pm and 8am Monday to Friday and then from 8pm on Friday evenings until 8am on Monday mornings.

Dr Ken Ferguson, Associate Medical Director - NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said: “We are delighted that Dr Malik has chosen to remain on Cumbrae on a permanent basis. He has proved extremely popular and we believe that together with our Advanced Nurse Practitioners and other staff, he will provide a first class clinical service to Cumbrae.

“We would like to sincerely thank the members of the Public Reference Group on Cumbrae who have been with us every step of the way of the past two years. Their contribution has been immense and invaluable - providing a patient and a member of the public’s perspective on local health care needs on the island.” The surgery is based within Garrison House and is open from 8am until 6.30pm. In addition, Dr Malik will also provide an out-of-hours service from 6.30pm until 8pm when the ANP service begins.

The Advanced Nurse Practitioners are senior nurses educated to masters degree level, working in both hospitals and primary care, and can assess and treat a multitude of clinical conditions, from minor injuries up to major illness. They can prescribe any medicine required to allow appropriate care and treatment of patients.

On Cumbrae they will work with nursing staff and paramedics to provide care for patients of any age and with a wide variety and range of problems and health care needs, including urgent and acute episodes and long-term chronic conditions. They will be responsible for clinical decision making for patients in Lady Margaret Hospital and assessment and treatment of patients in their own homes, including those receiving palliative care.