YATE'S West Walk Surgery is moving to make way for building work for the town's new health centre.

The surgery, based in the town's health centre, will be transferring to a block of portacabins in the neighbouring leisure centre car park next weekend.

The current health centre will then be demolished for construction of the new £12.5 million centre.

The facility, due to open in 18 months, will provide a new home for the West Walk Surgery plus an integrated children's centre, new outpatient department, a minor injuries service and diagnostic tests.

The surgery intends to move to the temporary building during the weekend to minimise disruption to patient services.

Bosses will close the surgery on Friday, March 14 and open it in the temporary building on Monday, March 17, with reduced surgeries from 11am.

Emergency services on the Friday will be provided to patients at a branch surgery in Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath.

Surgery practice manager Martin Wilkes said: "By moving over the weekend we plan to minimise the disruption to just the closure of the surgery all day Friday.

"We have advertised the closure by handing out leaflets and posters at schools, pharmacies and around the building.

"We aim to avoid people turning up at the surgery, being disappointed that we are not open.

"This is a big change for the surgery and I ask for patients' patience over this busy time."

Yate Health Centre was built in 1970 to encourage practice surgeries out of GP's homes and into one main facility for the growing town.

The centre was first home to three practices, managed by Bryan Hockey, Anthony Sarafian and R M Carr, and had nine GPs serving it for about 14,000 people.

With funding becoming available for new GP surgeries, two practices moved out of the centre separately to form Kennedy Way in 1988 and Courtside Surgery in 1992.

The remaining practice, West Walk Surgeryc has remained at the centre.

Current senior partner Dr Tim Spare said: "We are looking forward to becoming part of the new health centre.

"The current centre is past its sell by date with leaking roofs and an outdated layout. This new building will mean better services and conditions for the patients and the staff of Yate."