A GP Surgery in Otley has announced plans to step-up its community involvement in 2018.

The announcement by Westgate Surgery coincides with its recruitment of two new doctors, practice lead Dr Ben Hammersley and Dr Laura McCarthy.

The practice, which is part of the family-owned, Bramhope based OneMedicalGroup, has also welcomed three new front desk members and a new Business Manager, Tracy Lindsay.

OneMedicalGroup's Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Beverley-Stevenson, says the team is looking forward to working with more patients on new initiatives in the coming year.

She said: “We have been part of the Westgate community for 18 months and over this period we have supported a number of patient-led activities in Otley, such as the national Stay Well this Winter campaign and our recent Diabetes and Movember bootcamps.

"We’re all about improving lives and patients' health and we’ve got lots more planned for 2018.

"We are calling out for new members to join our patient participation focus group to help us further drive our community programme for Westgate in the New Year."

Dr Hammersley, who qualified as a doctor from Leicester Medical School in 2006, has moved to Otley from the group's surgery in The Light, Leeds.

Dr McCarthy, meanwhile, trained at the University of Leeds School of Medicine.

Dr Hammersley said: "I am very excited to have joined the dedicated Westgate Surgery team and I look forward to our 2018 community focus, and would encourage patients to get involved."

Dr Oliver Sykes, meanwhile, is moving on from the practice after serving the Otley community for almost two decades.

He said: "It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to be a GP at Westgate Surgery for nearly 20 years.

"I feel very lucky to have been a small cog in an amazing team and I am now going to spend some time resting before deciding on what to do next.

"I will still be around over the next couple of months, doing a vasectomy and substance misuse clinics."

Dr Hammersley added: "We are sure patients will join us in thanking Dr Sykes for his service to the practice and the Otley community and we wish him all the very best for the future.

"On behalf of the Westgate team we wish all of our patients a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year."

Patients interested in joining the Participation Group should call (01943) 660533 or visit westgatesurgery.com for more details.