A DOCTORS' surgery which has served patients from the same building for more than 100 years is poised to move into a former night spot, the D&S Times can reveal.

Doctors at Netherlaw Surgery on the corner of Stanhope Road and Abbey Road in Darlington are negotiating with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries to buy the former Blacketts pub in Bondgate.

If everything goes smoothly, the five-GP practice plans to turn the huge building into a modern medical facility complete with dentist's surgery, minor operations suite, young people's drop-in centre and chemist.

Proposals, which include the listed cottage attached to the pub, could also see the creation of a patient counselling suite and a specialist rape crisis unit.

The practice is anxious to point out that the plans for the modern medical centre are still in the early stages, but confirms that fingers are being crossed for the move.

Darlington Primary Care Group, which commissions the town's GP services, will be asked to approve the move in principle at next week's board meeting.

A doctors' surgery has operated from Netherlaw since the late 1800s.

But as the practice has grown so too have the problems of fitting everyone in.

Poor parking facilities and ongoing repairs to the Victorian town house have forced Drs Jeavons, Michie, Waterworth, Jones and Baines to look for alternative premises for their 8,500 patients for the past three years.

Now they hope their prayers are about to be answered.

Dr Andrew Michie, who has been a GP partner for 15 years, told the D&S Times: "I can confirm that we are hoping to relocate from Netherlaw to Blacketts.

"If it comes off we hope to be able to bring on site some additional services that are not part of a traditional GP surgery.

"Ideas in the melting pot include a dentist's surgery, minor operations suite, a drop-in centre for young people, a counselling suite and possibly a purpose-built rape crisis unit.

"However, nothing is firmed up yet. Everything depends on our negotiations with the brewery and other interested parties.

"It is a big building on a big site but at this stage we can't say whether or not it could all be occupied.

"Of course, the biggest advantage is much better parking facilities. At Netherlaw, it is becoming very difficult for patients to find a place to put their cars."

Dr Michie, however, could not confirm if Netherlaw would go on the market if they moved.

He said: "There are no discussions at present as to what we will do with the Netherlaw building.