FAMILY doctors in the Laun­ceston, Bude, Camelford districts and the rest Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have now taken over responsibility for buying almost all local health services.

NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group became officially responsible for around £700-million of health services from Monday (April 1).

Covering acute hospital care; mental health and children's care; community services and GP out-of-hours services, the group has been authorised to carry out its work with no conditions.

Chairman Dr Colin Philip, a GP at the Stennack Surgery, St.Ives, said the changes give clinicians and patients more power to improve local NHS services.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.