A HEALTH centre in Blackburn is due to open its doors for the first time on Monday. St George's Surgery, in Preston New Road, has moved to a new £1m site in Haslingden Road.

The new facilities will accommodate five GPs, community nursing staff, a pharmacy and car parking, as well as land for future expansion.

Practice manager Margaret Baines, said: "St George's Surgery has been in its existing building since the 1960s and the physical constraints of this accommodation have been making it increasingly difficult to deliver the type and the quality of care that the practice prides itself on, as well as stifling plans to develop future health care provision.

"At 836 sq metres, three times the size of the current building, the scheme will make a tremendous difference to the practice's plans to deliver quality primary care in the future. The improved working environment will be a boost for staff and patient morale."

Although the new centre is two or three miles from the old surgery, patients attend the surgery from a wide area, including Samlesbury, Langho, Guide, Belthorn, Lower Darwen and Wilpshire.

Managers at the health centre chose the new site with the help of private sector partners United Healthcare Developments after more than two years of looking around the town.

The firm will pay for the cost of the new building and make its return by leasing it back to the surgery, initially for 25 years.