KIDDERMINSTER'S £19 million treatment centre is throwing open its doors for its first major public event since it opened almost two years ago amid controversy following the downgrading of the hospital.

Visitors to Saturday's family open day will be able to see inside the state-of-the-art operating theatres, which deal with around 200 surgery cases a week.

They will also be able to tour the treatment rooms used for minor procedures and call in to the Minor Injury Unit and Primary Care Centre, which provides out-of-hours GP services.

Staff will be on hand to talk about the way the centre works, describing the patient's journey through diagnosis to treatment.

Information and advice will be given out by groups on a range of issues, including car safety seats, parentcraft, breast feeding, caring for twins and multiple births, stopping smoking and nurse recruitment.

Visitors will also be able to have their blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked.

Christmas gifts will be on sale and there will be a bouncy castle, face painting and a visit from Santa for the children.

The air ambulance team will be on site to explain how the service works and visitors can try their hand at being a DJ with the hospital radio station during the open day from 10am to 2pm.