HEALTH bosses have revealed plans to renovate Whitefield Health Centre - and they want the public's opinion on them.

The Uplands Medical Centre, in Bury New Road, is set for a drastic makeover, which will result in improved services for the 8,500 patients registered there.

The new centre would include GP practices, modern consulting rooms and clinics, minor surgery treatment facilities, dental services and a pharmacy.

It is part of a nationwide NHS plan to modernise premises, ensuring they can cope with the demands of 21st-century healthcare.

Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) has brought in consultancy firm BTG Community Solutions to ask patients what they think of the idea.

BTG will hold an information day between 4pm and 8pm next Thursday at Whitefield Methodist Church Hall located on Elms Lane, Whitefield.

BTG planning consultant David Diggle said: "The exhibition will provide members of the public with the opportunity to discuss the proposals with the development team, to ask any questions about the scheme, and to give their views on the proposals."

After the consultation, BTG will debrief the PCT and a planning application will be submitted to Bury Council.

If the council accepts the application, building work could begin by the end of the year.

A contingency plan would be implemented to ensure patients would be able to either use the centre during any work, or be referred to another surgery until the building is finished.

The centre has six doctors, a GP registrar and 11 other staff. Nine medical staff run regular clinics from the centre.