A NEW £1 million health centre will open in a Monmouthshire village next month.

The Wye Valley Surgery at Roman Park View, Trellech, represents the biggest investment in primary care facilities in the local authority area during recent years.

It will open on May 2, when youngsters from Trellech Primary school will perform for locals, GPs and representatives of the Aneurin Bevan Health Board as part of an opening ceremony.

Work began on the new surgery last August, with the aim of creating a 21st century for local people.

It replaces the current building, which dates back to the 1920s and was used as a waterworks before being converted to a surgery in 1977.

The need for a new surgery for the area was identified over 10 years ago, with it made a priority for firstly the Monmouthshire Local Health Board and then the Aneurin Bevan Health Board.

When it opens its doors, the new Trellech branch of the Wye Valley Surgery will boast a 473 square metres floorspace, with three consulting rooms, a nurse treatment room, a phlebotomy room, a minor surgery suite, a health promotion meeting room and a practice dispensary.

There will also be a baby changing and baby feeding room.

The design means it will have easy access for disabled patients, the visually impaired and will be wheelchair-accessible.

Doctors Rowena Christmas and Jon Jennings will work from there as part of a two-doctor partnership which also has a surgery at St Briavels, Gloucestershire.

The team based at Trellech will include a practice manager, two practice nurses and other staff delivering a range of general medical and nursing services.