FEARS about the future of the GP practice in North Tawton have been laid to rest. The current practitioner, Dr Warre, is to retire this July and there was concern that this might spell the end of North Tawton's surgery. Those worries have now been allayed by the news that Devon Primary Care Trust has approved a merger with the practice of Dr Malcolm Downie in Hatherleigh. Dr Warre said the merger would ensure a continued GP service could be maintained in the town for the foreseeable future. It does not mean any movement of services from North Tawton to Hatherleigh, but it does mean that Dr Downie will take over the lease on the North Tawton surgery, pre-empting any possible amalgamation of that clinic with another practice during the current climate of restructuring within the NHS. The merger will allow the two doctors to work together on recruiting a new GP for the town — they already have several interested candidates. And it will ensure that there is no break in service between Dr Warre's retirement and the new GP's arrival. Dr Warre has been the GP at North Tawton for over 22 years. He said: 'There's a long history of general practice in North Tawton and it's important to maintain that tradition. 'It's time for me to bow out — but I'm only moving to Bondleigh, so I'm going to be viewing my old patients as my neighbours. I couldn't have let the area down.' Nick Pearson, of Devon Primary Care Trust, said the merger was 'excellent news' for North Tawton. The decision over the future of the North Tawton practice followed a public meeting earlier this month organised by the Devon Patient and Public Involvement Forum. Vice chair of the PPI Rod Jarvis said they had been delighted to see so many people at the meeting to air their concerns: 'Contacting PPI Forums is an effective way to raise issues, as NHS trusts have a statutory duty to respond to us within 20 working days.' For more information about the work of the PPI, telephone 01237 424000 or visit their website at http://www.cppih.org">www.cppih.org