THE end is in sight for the new £3.1million doctors surgery in Moreton which is opening in less than four weeks.

Finishing touches are now being added to the new White House and Mann Cottage GP practices, which have been built in front of the North Cotswold Hospital, in the Fosseway.

Opening on Monday, April 28, the Four Shires Medical Centre will cater for 9,000 patients and have a shared waiting area, a coffee shop and each practice will have its own dispensary.

The new purpose-built facilities will pool resources for a minor operating room, offer a psychiatric clinic, community health visitors, district nurses, physiotherapy and will share IT.

It will also house consultants for outreach clinics along with a community mental health team and will have 44 car parking spaces along with overflow space for patients.

Dr Hywel Furn Davies, of Mann Cottage Surgery, said the new premises will make everything more efficient.

"The idea is that both practices are on the same premises," he said. "Part of the change is improving IT connections. We're trying to improve patients experience with joined up thinking and closer co-odination with our consultant colleagues."

Dr Chris Morton, of White House Surgery, said: "It will be quicker and more efficient with a bigger range of services across the whole campus.

"We're very pleased with the achievement and are looking forward to get working to a normal rhythm again."

Built by Bristol-based Seddon Construction Ltd, the building was designed by Gloucester-based architects Roberts Limbrick Ltd to mirror the hospital behind.

Work finally started on the building last May more than a year later than planned after lengthy delays.

The new facilities, which have been in the making since 1996, will not change the services already offered.

"Phone numbers will stay the same," added Dr Furn Davies. "People can book appointments using existing phone numbers. And the Blockley surgery will not be changing."

Both surgeries will move to the new facilities on Friday, April 25 and on that day only emergency appointments will be available.

Dispensary drugs will also move over at the same time but medication can still be picked up on that day from the old premises.