Two women, alleged to have stolen more than £150,000 from the National Health Service while they were practice managers at a doctor’s surgery in Keighley, are expected to enter pleas to theft charges next month.

Mavis Clarkson, 64, and 45-year-old Sharon Ward, who each face 12 charges of theft from the surgery, appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for a plea and case management hearing.

But the hearing was adjourned until July 9 for the prosecution to give defence lawyers more information in relation to the charges and for defence statements to be provided.

Clarkson, of Lingfield Drive, Crossroads, near Keighley, and Ward, of Burnside Mill, Addingham, near Ilkley, are alleged to have taken the money from the Kilmeny Surgery, in Ashbourne Road, Ingrow, Keighley, between April 2000 and May 2006.

They are accused of overpayment of their basic salaries and overtime payments, and stealing money through the cash adjust earnings system.

Seven of the charges relate to theft from the cash adjust earnings system, three are allegations relating to overpayment of basic salary and the remaining two charges relate to overtime payments.

Amounts involved on the charges range from £1,536 to £42,678 and include an allegation against Ward alone of stealing £15,150 from the surgery in August, 2005.

A month-long trial has already been fixed to start at Bradford Crown Court, before Judge Peter Benson, on October 11.

Yesterday, prosecutor Stephen Grattage told Judge James Goss QC: “I am told today there is still some concern about what the charges relate to.” He added: “As I see it, the charges are very straightforward.”

He said pleas could be entered at the next hearing.

Nicholas Askins, representing Ward, said it was not a straightforward prosecution.

Judge Goss adjourned the hearing until July 9 and granted both women unconditional bail.