CRAMP is a condition that has affected staff and patients at Avenue Road Surgery in Malvern for years.

A move to the Whiteacres Medical Centre at the Enigma Business Park on Wednesday (January 11) should provide a permanent cure, as the building is five times the size of the current practice.

The six doctors and two nurses, who took turns to use six consulting rooms at Avenue Road, now have much more space.

There are 10 GP treatment rooms and the nurses each have a room with a separate preparation space.

Facilities for patients include a spacious waiting room, private interview room to speak to receptionists confidentially and a baby changing room for parents.

Practice manager Pauline Smith described the reaction of staff when they visited the building for the first time.

"They were delighted but were amazed at the size of the building in comparison to what they've been working in," she said.

Staff who have been accessing patient files stuffed into a tiny room now have office and storage space and a common room for breaks.

Upstairs, the new centre has a large meeting room that has already been booked for meetings by the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust.

In reception, a modern telephone system allows calls to be taken and appointments booked efficiently. A district nurse and health visitor will be based at the centre, allowing patients access to several services under one roof.

There is also a health education room where groups can learn about issues such as smoking and obesity.

Named after the nearby Whiteacres brook, the £2million new centre was built by specialist health company Prime and will serve the practice's 7,600 patients.

Prime's managing director Leighton Chumbley said: "We've built an extremely strong relationship with the practice and are delighted that the facility is complete and has met all their requirements.

"It will undoubtedly transform primary care provision in the local area and provide a one-stop, integrated centre of care for patients."

The old surgery premises now belongs to Prime, which has planning permission to convert it to housing or office space, although Mr Chumbley said its future had not yet been decided.

Transport to the new centre for patients using a town centre surgery was an issue when it was planned, but Mrs Smith said Worcestershire County Council had resolved this by altering bus routes

Buses can now stop outside, although the council has yet to install actual bus stops.

Avenue Road Surgery has been waiting to move to new premises for more than seven years.

"It's a fabulous building. It was worth the wait," said Mrs Smith.

Patients can book appointments on a new number: 01684 577029.

In the building next door is the Kiddi Caru nursery, which opened on Tuesday (January 3) and has space for 94 children.

Manager Amanda Preece said there were still plenty of places available for children aged three months to five years. Call 01684 771080.