Three GP surgeries for 20,000 in scheme

Three new GP surgeries and a health centre will be opened in Sandwell by June, it was announced today.

More than 20,000 patients are set to benefit from the scheme.

A health centre in West Bromwich and three surgeries in Great Bridge, Wednesbury and Langley are to be built.

Malling Health, of Kent, is providing the health centre and surgeries which will serve 6,000 patients each.

A health centre is set to open in Parsonage Street, West Bromwich, and the GP practice for Langley and Rood End will be at Warley Rugby Club, in Tat Bank Road.

Wednesbury's GP practice will be on the Wednesbury Leisure Centre site, and family doctors in Great Bridge will be in a new building on the £2.7 million Black Country Park, in Great Bridge Street.

The Great Bridge practice will have up to eight doctors and a team of nurses in a building let on a 10-year deal at an annual rent of £72,000.

Jon Dicken, of Sandwell Primary Care Trust, said: "We are particularly pleased to be able to provide greater access and choice to healthcare for Sandwell residents and look forward to the new facilities being up and running."

The surgeries will offer extended opening hours.