That this House notes with regret the serious deterioration of working relationships between partners at Castlegate and Derwent GP Practice; further notes that nearly all the GP partners have resigned, leaving only one partner planning to stay, with several others working out their notice periods; also notes evidence of financial mismanagement including the dismissal of a former business manager in 2023 following serious managerial failings, which led to substantial financial losses and placed the practice's viability at risk; expresses scepticism that the partnership can successfully recruit new partners given the reputational damage and ongoing turmoil; and calls attention to the resulting toxic working environment that has contributed to operational failures at the practice.

That this House notes with regret the serious deterioration of working relationships between partners at Castlegate and Derwent GP Practice; further notes that nearly all the GP partners have resigned, leaving only one partner planning to stay, with several others working out their notice periods; also notes evidence of financial...

That this House urges NHS England to work closely with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and consider all options for removing the GP contract from the Castlegate and Derwent GP partnership in order to protect patient safety; further urges the Department of Health and Social Care to review the statutory powers available to ICBs to enable timely removal of contracts from failing GP partnerships; requests that Cumberland Council's Health Scrutiny Committee undertake an inquiry into the practice and publicly invite both current and former partners, as well as the ICB, to give evidence; calls upon the sole remaining partner, Dr Desert, to recognise that the current partnership has failed, to hand back the contract, and to allow the ICB to appoint a new partnership capable of providing the safe, high-quality primary care services that the people of Cockermouth deserve; and applauds the dedicated, hard working practice staff who have continued to support patients throughout this difficult period.

That this House urges NHS England to work closely with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and consider all options for removing the GP contract from the Castlegate and Derwent GP partnership in order to protect patient safety; further urges the Department of Health and Social...

That this House notes the findings of CQC inspections in 2023, 2024 and 2025 which identified significant failures in safety, governance, responsiveness and leadership at Castlegate and Derwent GP Practice, including a warning notice issued in August 2024 for failures to establish effective systems to ensure safe patient care; further notes the conclusions of Cumbria's senior coroner in 2025 which identified a lack of proper leadership, inadequate incident investigation, and a gross failure in the care of a patient whose death was contributed to by neglect; urges the CQC to publish the findings of its 2026 inspection to ensure transparency and accountability; and regrets that despite public statements from the senior partner in 2023 and subsequent reassurances from practice leaders, promised improvements have repeatedly failed to materialise.

That this House notes the findings of CQC inspections in 2023, 2024 and 2025 which identified significant failures in safety, governance, responsiveness and leadership at Castlegate and Derwent GP Practice, including a warning notice issued in August 2024 for failures to establish effective systems to ensure safe patient care; further...

That this House notes with concern the growing loss of public confidence in the Castlegate and Derwent GP Practice in Cockermouth, which serves over 18,500 patients; acknowledges long-standing issues detailed in successive Care Quality Commission inspections in 2023, 2024 and 2025, which gave an overall rating of "Requires Improvement", with serious concerns highlighted across safety, responsiveness and leadership; regrets the continued breakdown of trust within the partnership; and expresses deep concern that public confidence in the delivery of high-quality primary care has been severely undermined.

That this House notes with concern the growing loss of public confidence in the Castlegate and Derwent GP Practice in Cockermouth, which serves over 18,500 patients; acknowledges long-standing issues detailed in successive Care Quality Commission inspections in 2023, 2024 and 2025, which gave an overall rating of "Requires Improvement", with...

That this House is deeply concerned about the situation at Castlegate and Derwent Surgery in Cockermouth, which serves over 18,500 patients; notes that the practice was rated Requires Improvement in Care Quality Commission reports in both 2023 and 2025, with serious issues identified in leadership, safety, and responsiveness; further notes recent findings from Cumbria’s coroner which highlighted a lack of proper leadership and incident investigation; is alarmed by reports that nearly all GP partners are resigning, leaving only the senior partner, Dr Simon Desert, in post; calls on Dr Desert to make a public statement about what has gone wrong in the management of the practice; and further calls on the North Cumbria Integrated Care Board to urgently consider the strongest possible intervention to protect patient safety and restore confidence in this vital local service.

That this House is deeply concerned about the situation at Castlegate and Derwent Surgery in Cockermouth, which serves over 18,500 patients; notes that the practice was rated Requires Improvement in Care Quality Commission reports in both 2023 and 2025, with serious issues identified in leadership, safety, and responsiveness; further notes...

That this House notes that the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for Cockermouth on 4 November 2025; observes that the agency has installed additional flood barriers around the collapsed Grade II-listed Old Courthouse on the River Cocker; further notes that the agency reports it is closely monitoring Cocker Bridge, all at the taxpayers’ expense; decries the fact that we have entered a third flood season with no progress on securing this dangerously unstable building which the owner Mr Samiul Ahmed allowed to fall into the River Cocker in October 2023; condemns Mr Ahmed’s ongoing attempts to deflect responsibility onto Cumberland Council; highlights the clear and present danger to residents and the town caused by the resultant delay to capital works on the river bank; and demands that Mr Ahmed immediately hands over the keys of the Old Courthouse to allow the Environment Agency to get on with the urgent and necessary task of rebuilding Cockermouth’s vital flood defences.

That this House notes that the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for Cockermouth on 4 November 2025; observes that the agency has installed additional flood barriers around the collapsed Grade II-listed Old Courthouse on the River Cocker; further notes that the agency reports it is closely monitoring Cocker Bridge,...

That this House expresses grave concern over the condition of the historic Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth; notes that the building, purchased by Mr Samiul Ahmed in 2022, was allowed to collapse into the River Cocker in 2023 and remains unrestored; further notes that Mr Ahmed has failed to demonstrate either the intention or financial capacity to carry out essential repairs; decries the misdirection and stalling he has engaged in vis-à-vis Cumberland Council; observes that Halal Group Ltd, the company used to limit Mr Ahmed’s personal liability, declared assets of £182,520 in 2023, having acquired a property purchased at auction for £51,000; also notes that despite the building’s hazardous state, the company’s fixed asset value increased to £233,386 in 2024, alongside liabilities of £225,255; calls on Mr Ahmed to publish a full and honest account of the company’s assets and liabilities, including details of the creditors underwriting Halal Group Ltd; and urges Mr Ahmed to demonstrate to the residents of Cockermouth, particularly those at heightened risk of flooding, that he has both the financial means and the moral commitment to restore the building and protect the community from further harm.

That this House expresses grave concern over the condition of the historic Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth; notes that the building, purchased by Mr Samiul Ahmed in 2022, was allowed to collapse into the River Cocker in 2023 and remains unrestored; further notes that Mr Ahmed has failed to demonstrate...

That this House notes in July 2022 Samiul Ahmed of Tower Hamlets purchased The Grade II listed Old Courthouse, Cockermouth, a building with an annual income of £38,000, believed to be worth £250,000, for the reduced price of £51,000, due to riverbank erosion and the need for major structural repairs; further notes that in pursuit of quick profit, Ahmed arranged a structural survey and associated works, but on learning of the extent of wider liability and ignoring professional advice, had support props removed, leading to major deterioration and collapse of a portion of the building into the River Cocker in October 2023; also notes that after three years the building remains unsupported, a partial ruin; notes that the Environment Agency mapped increased flood risk to Cockermouth as a result, and expressed concern that the front of the building is also undermined and at risk of collapse; observes that Ahmed failed to pay contractors, has been successfully sued for £62,000 by one local company, and that he has conspired to avoid liability by arranging transfer of his personal ownership of the building to a different legal entity, Halal Group Ltd.; believes that Ahmed is now seeking to transfer responsibility to Cumberland Council taxpayers a potential bill which could range between £1 and £4 million; asserts it should not be the responsibility of taxpayers to pick up the liabilities of persons whose motivation has been property speculation for a quick profit; and calls upon Mr Ahmed to fund the restoration costs.

That this House notes in July 2022 Samiul Ahmed of Tower Hamlets purchased The Grade II listed Old Courthouse, Cockermouth, a building with an annual income of £38,000, believed to be worth £250,000, for the reduced price of £51,000, due to riverbank erosion and the need for major structural repairs;...