A Shipley medical centre has scooped a national award for the innovative way it offers services to teenagers.

Windhill Green Medical Centre has been awarded the Royal College of General Practitioners award for adolescent services – the Kathy Phipps award.

The practice had to demonstrate innovation and improvement in the standard of care over two years.

In late 2008, the practice set up the WISH clinic (Windhill Information Support Health), in response to a recognition that the health needs of young people were not being met.

Data revealed that within Bradford and Airedale, Windhill was a hotspot for chlamydia rates amongst teenagers and also had a high teenage pregnancy rate. A drop-in clinic was set up to offer information and support on issues from sexual health and contraception, to chlamydia screening, smoking, relationship problems and bullying.

Dr Abigail Winter, who led the project, and healthcare assistant Emma Hastie, who works in the WISH clinic, attended the meeting of the Royal College of Practitioners to accept the award. Dr Winter said: “It has been good to have recognition from outside the practice that what we are doing is along the right lines. It is a great endorsement.”

The centre received £2,500 and a plaque. The clinic runs on Thursdays from 3pm to 6pm at Windhill Green Surgery in Thackley Old Road.

Meanwhile, Windhill Green Medical Centre has marked the retirement of a long-serving, valued member of the team John Pitcher. Mr Pitcher has been with the practice for 19 years and helped to develop the IT systems. Practice manager Elaine Bates, practice manager, said: “The practice will not be the same without him.”