THE medical team which 18 months ago saved Minehead’s only GP surgery has been awarded a three-year contract to continue running it.

One Medicare stepped in after Minehead Medical Centre closed suddenly in January, 2024, on the eve of health service regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) suspending its ‘inadequate’ care provider.

Last month, the CQC awarded One Medicare a ‘good’ rating in every category for the Irnham Road surgery.

Now, One Medicare has won a three-year contract from January, 2026, to continue running the practice, with an option to extend for a further two years by mutual agreement.

NHS Somerset primary care director Sukeina Kassam said: “This was a rigorous procurement process and we were very impressed with One Medicare’s submission.

“Rapid improvements have already been delivered and we look forward to continuing to work with the practice to maintain the momentum and deliver further developments for the benefit of local people.”

Medical centre operations manager Katheryn Antonelli said: “As somebody local to Minehead, I am delighted to see the continued progress being made at Minehead Medical Centre.

“The team here is passionate about the community and proud of the strides we have made, as reflected in the recent CQC rating.

“We know there is still more to be done, and we are committed to ongoing improvement.

“Over the coming years, we will be focusing on expanding access, enhancing patient experience, and further developing integrated services to meet the evolving needs of the local population.”

Patient participation group chairman Barbara Seacombe said: “Congratulations to One Medicare.

“We have built a warm and positive relationship with the dedicated team, who are always keen to listen to the voice of patients.

“Many improvements have already been made, and we feel confident that even more will follow in the future.”

OneMedical Group co-founder and chief executive Rachel Beverley-Stevenson said: “Our commitment to putting patients first is at the heart of everything we do.

“We are proud to serve the Minehead community, and the recent procurement success and positive CQC rating are a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our entire team.

“We are also delighted to welcome Dr Christian Hornung, who will be joining us as clinical lead from October 1.

“Dr Hornung brings over a decade of experience as a GP partner in Somerset and has served as a clinical director for the past three years.

“He has a strong track record in clinical leadership, service development, and driving innovation within primary care.

“His appointment represents an exciting step forward for the practice as we continue to enhance the quality and accessibility of care for our patients.”

Dr Hornung said: “I am deeply passionate about Somerset and its communities, and I have been truly impressed by the achievements of the Minehead One Medicare team.

“I am genuinely excited to support and build on this success.

“I look forward to bringing energy to the role and working collaboratively with colleagues and patients to help shape the next successful chapter.”