A STATE-of-the-art medical centre has opened in Malvern, providing care for more than 19,000 patients.

The £7.5 million Prospect View Medical Centre in Pickersleigh Road opened to patients yesterday.

Staff from the Malvern Health Centre and the Court Road Surgery will be based on the site - but will keep their separate identities - while Chiropody at Storer Court, Malvern and Malvern Dental Access Centre, containing four dental surgeries, will move there within the next few weeks.

David Jago, practice manager at Malvern Health Centre and Lyn Norman, practice manager at Court Road Surgery, said in a joint statement: "We have worked long and hard to bring our plans to fruition. We would like to say a big thank you to all our staff and patients for their understanding while we have been bringing our new and spacious building into operation, backed with the most modern information systems."

Mr Jago said his practice now had 13 consulting rooms instead of five.