TWO Darwen doctor surgeries are to merge, bringing 13,000 patients into a single practice.

Darwen Health Link and The Darwen Surgery, which are both based at Darwen Health Centre in James Street West, will merge on April 7.

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It means Dr S Ahmed, of The Darwen Surgery, and his nursing team, will join forces with the existing five doctors on the larger Darwen Health Link.

Darwen Health Link practice manager Janine Melia, released a joint statement with The Darwen Surgery, it said: “In line with health economy guidelines and after a series of exhaustive meetings with various stakeholders, including NHS agencies, both practices felt merging into a group practice will serve patients better.

“The merge will improve patient access, provide mixed skills of GPs and will enhance in-house provision of services such as minor surgery, family planning, cryotherapy and diabetes.

“Combined resources will give momentum and new vigour to the practice and this will result in more care being provided.

“We have involved and engaged our patients at various levels, and they have welcomed this move.

“By combining workforces we are confident we will be able to meet patients’ needs.”

The Lancashire Telegraph understands Darwen Health Link has about 8,000 registered patients and Dr S Ahmed will bring a further 5,000 with him to the practice.

Sudell councillor Roy Davies said he had enjoyed a high standard of service while a patient at Darwen Health Link and he hoped the addition of new patients would not affect that.

He said: “I am worried as a patient of that practice and a councillor that no one has been informed and there was no consultation .

“At Darwen Health Link I have always had excellent service and I do not want the quality we are getting now to be tarnished.”