A KEIGHLEY medical centre is taking over the running of another GP practice in the town.

Ling House has been awarded a permanent contract to operate North Street Surgery, from December 1.

It follows a procurement process carried out by NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group.

Currently, NHS services at North Street Surgery are provided by doctors and healthcare staff from Westcliffe Care UK – known as Affinity Care – under a short-term contract.

As part of the new arrangement, patients from Ling House – in Scott Street – and North Street Surgery will be able to use services at both sites, which are around 350 yards apart.

A spokesperson said: "The transfer of services will be seamless.

"Medical records and patient registration details will transfer to the new service provider on December 1.

"Patients at both surgeries need take no action and they should notice no change in the care that they receive."

Ali Jan Haider, director of keeping well at NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group, paid tribute to what Affinity Care had achieved and said he was confident the same levels of service would be maintained at North Street Surgery.

He added: "Ling House Medical Centre is well known in the Keighley area and is rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

"We strongly believe that the practice will continue to provide the same levels of service at North Street Surgery as its predecessor, Affinity Care.

"Affinity Care has helped many people improve their health and wellbeing. We would like to thank them and their staff for the care they have provided over the last four years."

Dr Babar Hussain, a GP at Ling House Medical Centre, said: "The Ling House team would like to welcome patients from North Street to the practice. We are a local, traditionally-run GP training practice and value our central role in the local community in improving health and patient outcomes. We aim to provide the whole breadth of primary care services to our patients.

"We are looking forward to working with all of our patients to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Keighley. As this is a permanent change, we wish to work on a long-term vision with continuity of care for the patients of North Street. Many of the patients from North Street will have attended Ling House for their recent Covid vaccinations and we hope this was a positive start to this relationship."