A MEDICAL centre which has struggled to attract doctors could benefit from a Government scheme which offers a £20,000 payment to GPs willing to work in rural locations.

Bill Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire, has written to the Health Secretary asking if a scheme of one-off payments to boost the number of doctors in rural locations could be earmarked for Kington Medical Centre.

This is part of a national £4 million scheme to increase the number of doctors in rural areas with the one-off payment of £20,000 offered to 200 GPs from 2018.

“I am delighted at the announcement of this scheme, which I hope will provide a real boost to my constituency of North Herefordshire," said Mr Wiggin

"The £4 million of extra funding for rural GPs is further evidence that the Government are investing in rural areas to ensure vital local services like healthcare are protected.

"The town of Kington in my constituency has long struggled to attract resident GPs, and so I have written to the Health Secretary to ask if some of the £20,000 initial payments to newly qualified doctors could be earmarked for Kington Medical Practice, in order to help a young GP set up a life there.

"One of my key pledges during the last election was to sustain my campaign for crucial rural services such as education and I very much hope that this scheme can be deployed to help my constituents, many of whom are elderly and struggle to travel the long distances to their next nearest General Practice.”