A GP surgery is set to be the first in South Ayrshire to come under direct health board control.

Six thousand patients will be affected when the 101 Medical Practice in Troon is taken over by Ayrshire and Arran Health Board in April for a limited time.

The board intervened after respected GPs Jill Shennan and Christine Auld announced their retiral from the 101 partnership.

It leaves the town of over 16,000 residents with two practices left to cover everyone, the five-doctor Templehill practice and the four-doctor Portland practice.

East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership director Eddie Fraser said: "NHS Ayrshire and Arran has advertised the availability of the contract to GPs who may wish to provide general medical services as an independent practice. This has proved unsuccessful with no interest being shown.

"NHS Ayrshire and Arran will ensure that patients continue to receive access to General Medical Services, and will take over the management of the surgery from 1 April 2018 for a limited time.

"We are currently in discussions with the two remaining GP practices in Troon about them potentially providing services for the approximately 6,000 patients from 101 Medical Practice."

Patients should continue to use 101 Medical Practice until they are informed otherwise.

The current nursing and support staff of the practice will become NHS Ayrshire and Arran employees.