PLANS for an £11 million health centre which promises to transform NHS care in a community have been unveiled.

The proposal for the four-storey building on the site of the former Kings Arms pub in Weston Road, Meir, is currently subject to consultation.

If approved, the centre will bring seven GP practices together and a range of health services, including physiotherapy and district nursing.

NHS Stoke-on-Trent project manager Sandra Jones said: "The centre could be opened by the end of 2011 or start of 2012.

"The three GP practices in the current health centre would be moved into the new building, along with four others from the surrounding area.

"There will be more accommodation and more services with increased sessions, so patients will find it easier to access what they need.

"For example, people needing adult physiotherapy currently go to Longton Cottage Hospital, but this will be available in the new centre.

"We have already taken on board a lot of comments from the community about what they want in the centre. One of the things asked for was a community area, so we are proposing a multi-purpose room."

The community room would be sited on the ground floor. Physiotherapy, district nurses and podiatry would also be located on this level.

The first floor would house five of the GP practices and the dental centre. The other two GPs would be on the second floor, with the third floor reserved for office space and staff rooms.

Plans show a large glazed panel on the Weston Road side of the building and the site will be lined by trees and hedges.

Maggie Carter, chairman of Meir Community Steering Group, said: "This is really good news for the area. The old health centre is small and lots of people with chronic diseases have to travel to hospital for treatment.

"But the new centre would have a chronic disease management service."

The centre would be open from 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, and for a couple of hours on Saturdays.

There would 35 car parking spaces to complement the 75 in the existing car park.

Expectant mum, Sam Allcock, aged 28, from Meir Park, said: "It will be inconvenient for a lot of people from Weston Coyney who will have to travel further to reach their GP. I don't like the panelling on the design and I think the building looks a bit ugly, but it will help to have all services under one roof."

Retired metallurgist, Michael Clewes, aged 68, of Weston Coyney, said: "The building is a bit futuristic looking and isn't very welcoming. What's inside is more important than the outside, though."