A MULTI-million-pound surgery was due to open for business today, giving patients and staff more space.

The £3m Elbury Mount Medical Centre - the latest major piece of building activity in Fairfield Close, Brickfields, is the new accommodation for Dr Magda Cullen and Partners, who were formerly based at Lowesmoor Surgery.

Despite public concern that some patients may find it difficult to reach, Paul Hill, the centre's business manager said everything possible had been done during the planning stages to ensure that accessibility is easy for patients.

The new centre has 93 car parking bays, cycling routes and parking racks. It is also on the regular number 35 bus route from the city.

There are 12,000 patients on the surgery's files, although Mr Hill could not say whether that number would expand.

The purpose-built surgery compliments another major project in the close - the Fairfield Centre, which was specially built as a base for adult learning, SureStart and a general meeting place for community groups.

During the last two weeks, surgery staff have been moving equipment and files to their new home.

Meanwhile, a derelict site beside the Lidl supermarket in Newtown Road, Ronkswood, has been fenced off, and signs have been erected to tell people that another new surgery will be built. Work is due to begin in June

It was third time lucky for the £8m project - set to open in 2006 - which had been twice been refused planning permission before Worcester City Council reversed its previous decisions in December last year.