North Berwick’s GP practice is set to welcome new patients from surrounding villages, after NHS Lothian admitted a data error from 2016.

NHS Lothian conducted a boundary review of practices in 2016 that saw Whitekirk and surrounding hamlets moved into the East Linton practice boundary, and rural areas north of Athelstaneford, including Drem, moved into the Haddington boundary.

However, NHS Lothian has now confirmed that there was “a minor error with data” and that these areas would be returning to the North Berwick Group Practice boundary.

At North Berwick Community Council’s July meeting, the group’s opinion on the change was asked.

Members were confused as they believed the practice was “at capacity” and asked for clarification.

An East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government requested Public Health Scotland review all GP practice boundaries to assess where there may be any gaps in provision.

“NHS Lothian discovered that there had been a minor error with data when the previous change of boundary had been carried out in 2016.

“The 2016 review removed Gullane from the North Berwick Practice boundary but also had removed small hamlets such as Whitekirk and rural properties north of Athelstaneford.

“These will be returned to the North Berwick practice but involve very small numbers of individuals and, due to some ‘overlap’, these residents can also access capacity at Haddington or East Linton GP practices.”