HEALTH services in Tidworth are set to get a boost with the opening of a new doctors' surgery in Drummer Lane, off Station Road.

The Castle Practice in Ludgershall commissioned the new health centre for the patients of its Elm House surgery in Tidworth and it is due to open to patients on February 21.

Practice manager Paul Bessant said: "One-third of our patients attend the Tidworth surgery and we want to provide them with a full range of services.

"We considered extending the existing surgery but it was not practical. It was going to be very difficult to comply with the recently introduced Disability Discrimination Act."

The practice decided the most effective way ahead would be to sell Elm House and to provide a purpose-built surgery funded through a Private Finance Initiative in partnership with Brackley Investments.

Mr Bessant said: "We planned for the future and have designed a building which will allow for the Practice to expand. We are aiming for a one-stop shop.

"Accommodation includes a practice nurse suite; a minor operations suite and offices for the mental health team, district nurses, health visitors and midwives as well as much better facilities for baby clinics. We are also considering putting a physiotherapist in."

Also accommodated in the building, on the first floor, which is accessible by a lift, are RELATE and Homestart. And Hedges Pharmacy is moving into a neighbouring building to provide an on-site pharmacy for patients.

Mr Bessant said: "Now we have a state-of the-art minor operations theatre we are considering using this for our Ludgershall patients as well.

"We could carry out minor operations, such as vasectomies, for which patients currently have to travel to Salisbury or Winchester."

The new surgery will be opened weeks before the Department of Health introduces more flexibility into the services GPs can provide.

From April 2005, GPs can choose to improve and enhance the delivery of services by participating in Practice Led Commissioning.

Mr Bessant said: "Now we have such wonderful facilities we are in a very strong position to make the most of this initiative in Tidworth. A service we are considering offering is a Minor Injury Unit - it would really benefit our local population. It is a long way to travel to the nearest hospital."

Debra Elliott, director of commissioning for Kennet and North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts, said: "The trusts welcomes the practice's inititative to provide a better range of facilities for patients.

"One of our aims is to ensure that our GPs and their teams are able to work from modern premises and are able to offer an extended range of high quality services as close to people's homes as is possible.

"This new health centre will certainly benefit the people of Tidworth."