A GROUP of Ribble Valley GP surgeries could be set to form a federation with the aim of providing joint care for around 35,000 people.

The Castle Medical Group is considering joining with Pendleside Medical Practice, which is also based at the Clitheroe Medical Centre, and Whalley Medical Centre.

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The surgeries could start working together later this year which would mean closer working relationships and joint provision of some services.

The deal would see the practices remain under separate names and locations but would see a number of services shared in order to give better care to patients in the borough.

It comes as The Castle Medical Group was awarded the Quality Practice Award from the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The award, which is only held by around 10 per cent of practices across the country, is the culmination of two years of work put in by the practice’s 50-strong staff which includes nine doctors and five nurses.

Phil Mileham, the practice’s managing partner, said: “GP practices up and down the country are considering forming federations and many believe that it’s the best way to provide some services.

“Because of the strain on the profession at the moment we need to look at different ways to better serve the communities that we are based in.

“A federation deal would not be a merger but would mean that we would work closer with the other two practices to provide care in a way that we would never be able to do separately.

“We would still have the same names and be based in the same locations but it would mean that we could look after a greater number of people more efficiently.

“Nothing has been formally agreed but I think that it could happen sometime this year as other practices are likely to enter these agreements sometime in 2015 as well.”

The Castle Medical Group has been based at the health centre since the 1970s and currently has more than 14,000 registered patients.

Mr Mileham praised the members of staff as well as Dr Sunil Nedungayil, the practice’s clinical lead, for their efforts in working towards the award.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been given this award and it really reflects how much effort everybody has put into getting it.

“It has been a real team effort and it proves that our patients are getting the very best of care.”

Pendleside Medical Centre patient Simon O’Rourke, a member of the town council, said: “I think that this is worth a pilot to see if it works. If it means that things are more efficient for patients then all the better.”