Work has started on a £5million health centre that bosses hope will bring services closer to people’s homes.

A turf-cutting ceremony took place yesterday at the former Eversley School Playing Fields in Reydon, near Southwold.

The centre is being built by NHS Property Services on behalf of HealthEast, the NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group.

Bosses say the new building will bring together a wide range of facilities, providing modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation for local doctors and other health services. It will also act as a teaching base for GPs and include a community pharmacy as well as space for a variety of outpatient and community-based clinical services.

Andy Evans, chief executive of HealthEast, said: “We are delighted that work has started on the new centre. It will bring huge benefits to the people of Reydon and Southwold by providing them with fully-integrated, easy-to-access services which are delivered from modern, attractive premises.

“Our vision is to deliver out-of-hospital care wherever possible, so that people can access seamless services closer to their homes. The centre is an important step in helping us to realise this ambition and we look forward to its completion.”

Local firm LSI Architects designed the building, which should be complete in the first half of next year. Morgan Sindall is the principal contractor.