PORTISHEAD patients will soon be able to access a host of new health services in the town including physiotherapy and podiatry.

PORTISHEAD patients will soon be able to access a host of new health services in the town including physiotherapy and podiatry.

Building work is due to start on Portishead's Primary Care Resource Centre on February 13, which will be the new home of the Harbourside Family Practice.

The three-storey state-of-the-art building will include 12 consulting rooms and two treatments rooms for the practice and the primary care trust will also have seven consulting rooms, a minor surgery suite and a physiotherapy suite for up to 30 patients.

The practice will be able to cater for a total of 15,000 patients and will now be able to welcome residents from new developments in the town

Practice manager for the Harbourside Family Practice, Tony Sullivan, said: "The partners and staff of the practice are excited by the commencement of the building of their new practice.

"The completed building will be a far cry from the Portacabins they have worked in for the past six years.

"I feel this new development will give patients and staff a facility for the future growth and needs of the population of Portishead, with up to date clinical and design specifications.

The scheme will bring vital new services to the town as well as a number of new healthcare and administration jobs.

Patients will be able to access better care closer to their homes, community-based alternatives to hospital care, a wider choice of treatments and reduced waiting times for appointments.

Some of the services being provided by the primary care trust are yet to be announced.

The trust's chief executive, Chris Born, said: "We are looking forward to seeing the development take shape, as it will provide a range of excellent new services for the local community."

Gadd construction company is building the new centre, which has been designed by architects Stride Treglown and funded by General Practice Group.