A DOCTOR’S practice in Blackburn has taken on a new partner – bucking the national trend.

Dr Harmeet Singh has joined husband and wife team Dr Mridul Kumar and Dr Saroj Datta at their Stepping Stone Practice based in Audley Health Centre.

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The appointment of Dr Singh, who had been working as a locum in the area, is seen as a coup with many surgeries nationally struggling to appoint GPs.

Dr Singh was originally offered a role as a salaried GP but has since become a partner.

Dr Datta said: “I liked him and I saw a very conscientious man, one who I could share responsibility with and who could gradually take over as my wife and I start to wind down towards retirement.

“I first persuaded him to take a job as a salaried GP but after around 18 months offered him a partnership in the practice. I wanted him to feel part of the team and felt that a partnership would give him ownership of the responsibility.”

Born in India, Dr Singh, 43, moved to the UK in 2003 and undertook his GP training through the North West Deanery, in Blackburn and Burnley in 2005.

Dr Singh said: “Since coming to the UK, I’ve worked in many different areas including prisons, GP out-of-hours, walk in centres, and triaged for NHS Direct. With two young daughters I thought it was about time I settled down.”