A NEW medical centre completing a £560 million barracks in Colchester has opened and taken its first patients.

The purpose-built medical reception station at Merville Barracks includes an extra doctors’ surgery, larger pharmacy, changing facilities, reception, a health promotion suite, chiropodist office, a gym for physiotherapy, conference room and library.

Upstairs is a new larger dental centre with extra surgery, while a small ward for serious in-patients is also included.

The centre was opened last week but only emergency patients were allowed in while equipment and records were transferred.

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