Health officials have admitted they have forked out hundreds of thousands for empty offices in Huddersfield.

And NHS managers in North Kirklees have confessed they are paying for two buildings – one they moved out of 15 months ago.

North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (NKCCG) is based at Empire House, Dewsbury.

But it still has a £423,000 share of a £650,000-per-year bill for space it no longer uses at NHS headquarters at Broad Lea House, Bradley.

Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group (GHCCG), which is still based at the former NHS Kirklees HQ at Bradley, pays the remaining £¼m of the hefty bill.

A spokeswoman for the two CCGs vowed the six-figure-bill did not impact patient care as they received funding to offset it.

Once the space is re-let the money can be spent on patients.

The property headache began when NHS Kirklees was split into the two smaller CCGs on April 1, 2013.

Responsibility for Broad Lea House was transferred to NHS body Community Health Partnerships (CHP).

The modern building in a business park off Bradley Road was left with excess space after the restructuring of health services in April 2013 which saw some NHS staff transfer to different organisations, such as Kirklees Council.

Then in January 2014 NKCCG moved out to relocate to Dewsbury.

At the time, NKCCG chief officer, Chris Dowse told the Examiner the move to Empire House would save money.

But with no replacement groups found to take on the empty office space in Huddersfield, the CCG has confessed it is still being charged for space it no longer uses.

Ms Dowse said: “As NHS North Kirklees CCG it is important that we are located in North Kirklees and not in Huddersfield.

“The cost of our current premises is less than the cost of premises at Broad Lea House.

“We receive funding to cover the cost of the space at Broad Lea House so it has no impact on patient care.

“Once the space is let at Broad Lea House then we will be making a saving.”

A separate joint statement for the two CCGs said: “CHP and NHS Property Services work closely with healthcare commissioners to identify surplus premises and void space within the portfolio and ensure such space is either leased or disposed of to reduce costs and realise revenue savings for the NHS.

“Any savings made on property from now on can be invested in patient services.”

Across Yorkshire it has been reported that at least £17 million was spent on empty clinics and offices since April 2013.