The out-of-hours GP service at St Andrews could be saved by bolstering its rota with clinicians.
A mixture of GPs and clinicians could staff the service on evenings and weekends.
For a year, Fife’s out-of-hours GP service has been provided only from Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, due to a shortage of doctors to run it.
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership had proposed to close the St Andrews service permanently.
However, amid widespread public concern, a concerted effort was launched to find a solution.
A proposal which has emerged would see GPs and clinicians based at St Andrews Community Hospital on weekdays until 10pm, on Saturdays from 8am to midnight and on Sundays from 10am to 8pm.
Clinicians would make home visits but the urgent care centre would open when an appointment was necessary.
Details are yet to be finalised but it is expected the option will be presented to the partnership’s integration joint board in April for approval.
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Dr Angela Anderson, chairwoman of the St Andrews Out-Of-Hours Group, said: “We are delighted that an option to retain the out-of-hours service at St Andrews Community Hospital is now emerging.
“It is the result of hundreds of hours of input by many volunteers, community councils and healthcare professionals across north-east Fife over many months and on numerous fronts.”
She said: “The model we have come up with still needs some work, some details require clarification.
“It has to be formally sanctioned by the members of the integration joint board, and it will be important to monitor and review it once it is operational.”
North East Fife SNP MP Stephen Gethins said he was pleased that a solution acceptable to the community and health care professionals had been found.
He said: “It is very important that we safeguard NHS services, and a huge amount of credit is due to local people and organisations including community councils representing St Andrews and the East Neuk, GPs and other healthcare professionals, as well as the university, for their tireless efforts to make sure north-east Fife does not lose out.
“I am very glad that Fife Health and Social Care Partnership and the integration joint board has listened to the concerns expressed and recognised the need for a sustainable solution to be found.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Liz Smith said campaigners who worked tirelessly should be complimented.
She said: “We need a safe and sustainable out-of-hours service for people in north-east Fife.
“Hopefully we can find a way forward with this issue.”
A petition against the permanent closure attracted almost 6,000 signatures and 2,000 postcard objections.
