TWO doctors surgeries are joining forces ahead of one moving into a new state of the art building at Kidderminster Hospital.

Aylmer Lodge and Cookley practices will become one organisation from April 1, so that GPs can share expertise.

Aylmer Lodge will occupy the new Sutton Road Medical Centre alongside Northumberland House Surgery - although the two will remain separate practices.

Cookley Surgery will stay in Lea Lane but patients will have access to the new facilities and specialisms of doctors, as part of the Aylmer Lodge Cookley Partnership.

Dr Rebecca Hall, of Cookley is looking for a full time doctor to replace Dr Mandel Saverymottu who has retired. The new recruit will work mainly at Cookley but give medical cover to Aylmer Lodge.

They will join Dr Hall and Aylmer Lodge GPs Tony Carter, Jo Stanley, Feraz Irfan and Adam Cole and their team of doctors and nurses.

“We don’t expect our patients to notice any great changes, as most of the work is behind the scenes and to do with how we run and administer our practices,” said Dr Stanley.

“However we certainly expect to be able to offer a range of enhanced services to Cookley patients including near patient warfarin testing, minor surgery and enhanced access.”

She added: “Aylmer Lodge will also benefit from the introduction of a dynamic new partner into our team.”

She assured staff and patients that it would be business as usual, all jobs were secure and doctors would continue to work the same number of hours in their usual surgeries.

She added: “This is a challenge for all the partners but we are excited by this development and looking forward to working closely with Rebecca Hall.”

Work is well underway on the new practice at the southern end of the Kidderminster Hospital site, between Sutton Road, Hume Street and Franchise Street. It is expected to be finished by October.

Ahead of the new partnership, staff will be taking part in the Wyre Forest Fun Run in aid of the British Heart Foundation in March. Last year “super fit” GP Feraz Irfan won and is back in training to defend his title.