Doctors in a Fenland town have spent £3 million on a new health centre after a search for a site lasting nine years. The purpose-built centre in Syers Lane, Whittlesey, is now home to nine doctors and their 8,000 patients. Helene Ayre, practice manager, s

Doctors in a Fenland town have spent £3 million on a new health centre after a search for a site lasting nine years.

The purpose-built centre in Syers Lane, Whittlesey, is now home to nine doctors and their 8,000 patients.

Helene Ayre, practice manager, said the former premises "were quite simply not suited to modern day needs".

She said the doctors decided as far back as 1998 to begin looking for a new site but the difficulty was finding somewhere suitable near the centre.

"That took longer than we thought," she said. "Trying to find land in the centre of Whittlesey was a challenge."

However, last Thursday, and after completing the building four months early, the official opening took place with both civic and medical guests attending.

"The new centre is fabulous," said Ms Ayres. "We were all sick of room hopping. The new centre is superb."

Among the 100 or so guests was town council chairman, Counciilor Ken Mayor and the chief executives of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Primary Care Trusts.