A GP has agreed to stay in practice after her patients launched a national campaign to save their surgery.

Residents of picturesque Mevagissey in Cornwall launched a video with the hashtag #willyoubemygp after Dr Kathy James announced her retirement. Their campaign paid off – as it led to NHS England to step in and offer a package of support to the GP so she could stay in Mevagissey.

Her practice will be formally handed over to a practice in Camborne, Cornwall, 30 miles away and it will provide extra staff and support for the Mevagissey doctors. The Veor practice is unusual as one of its partners is a pharmacist – and he will now spend half the week in Mevagissey.

The campaigners also identified another three doctors who were interested in working as salaried GPs in Mevagissey – and they may be offered work by the Camborne practice, which is also seeking urgent care practitioners.

Dr Nikki Kanani, interim medical director of NHS England, said: “A lot of hard work has gone in to ensuring the Mevagissey practice stays open for its 5,300 patients and it is vital that we retain and support experienced family doctors like Dr James.

“It is good to see surgeries collaborating in this way, which is exactly how we envisage practices large and small working to support each other, providing a wider range of services to patients who can get the care they need close to home.”

Dr James said: “I am really pleased I can continue caring for the patients of Mevagissey surgery. I have been overwhelmed by the support that everyone has offered and the hard work to achieve this positive outcome for the community.”