URGENT action is being sought to recruit more GPs and nurses after a Keighley surgery announced it was closing two days a week due to a shortage.

Long Lee Surgery has posted a statement at its premises and on its website warning that it will be temporarily shut on Tuesdays and Fridays from next week.

Practice bosses say they are currently in the process of recruiting and hope the situation will return to normal within two to three months.

Keighley MP John Grogan described the closure as “less than satisfactory”, and has requested an urgent brief on the situation from Helen Hirst, chief executive of Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for the provision of GP services.

Mr Grogan said: “Having spoken to the practice, its difficulty reflects both national and local problems in GP recruiting.

“I will be meeting the chief executive and also visiting the practice itself over the next few weeks to do everything I can to ensure a full service is restored as soon as possible.

“In the long run we need more doctors in Keighley and Bradford, and that is why I recently met Bradford University’s vice chancellor to discuss his plans to open a medical school at the university.”

Dr Brendan Kennedy – a GP partner at the Kilmeny Group Medical Practice, of which Long Lee Surgery is a branch – said a limited service would still be available at the Long Lee Lane site each Tuesday and Friday.

He added: “If patients do need to see a GP, they will get to see one at our main surgery site in Ingrow.

“We have been open and honest with our patients about this temporary change, through our patient participation group, displaying posters within the practice and publishing information on our website.

“We’re in the process of recruiting and expect to be running GP and nurse appointments again on Tuesdays and Fridays at Long Lee from October.”

The CCG apologised for any inconvenience the “temporary but necessary” action would cause. A spokesman said: “We would like to reassure people that we’re working closely with the practice to resume normal service and can confirm that the main GP practice site at Kilmeny Surgery in Ingrow will offer face-to-face GP and nurse appointments for patients who would usually use Long Lee on the affected days.

“Nationally there is a lack of GPs and nurses and our primary care plans are strongly focused on attracting people towards working in the profession.

“People can help by only visiting their GP if they need to and use other services such as pharmacists, who are experts in medicines and minor illnesses, or the NHS Choices website to self-care where possible.”

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