RECORD numbers of patients are flocking to sign up with doctors at Stoke-on-Trent's latest health centre.

A staggering 350 people have registered at the £3 million centre in Middleport in its first week.

Officials admit the number of patients coming forward is more than three times what they had expected and the centre's first GP, Trentham-born Dr Martin Sullivan, said it was the fastest start to a practice he had ever seen.

He added: "I had thought there would be around 50 or 60 patients joining us in the first week as word got around that we are open.

"But clearly people had been waiting for some time for us to get going. I hope this trend now continues, because the more people we have registered the more services we will set up."

He will soon be joined by a female GP and the initial aim is for around 2,500 patients, eventually rising to 6,000 as two additional doctors are appointed.

Karen Broadhurst of Duncalf Street, Middleport, was among the first patients to join the new practice.

She said: "I have been with a surgery in Burslem for three years, but this is so close I had no hesitation in joining.

"The residents have been fighting so long for this health centre we must make sure it is a success. The building itself is fantastic and in an ideal place, smack in the heart of Middleport with easy access for people with disabilities.

"I am not surprised it has got off to such a good start, because at a residents meeting recently people were signing registration forms before it even opened.

"This shows that something can actually be delivered in Middleport and I hope it triggers regeneration in the area."

The surgery was officially opened yesterday by Health Secretary Andy Burnham.

The high number of patients signing up prompted the minister to question why the building had not been provided sooner.

He said: "Middleport is clearly an area of high need with a very big demand for GP services.

"I have been told of cases of people having to catch two buses to get to see a doctor.

"That cannot be right and the numbers coming forward vindicate the primary care trust's decision to locate the centre here."

After a tour of the striking two-storey complex, built in Morton Street in under a year following a drawn-out campaign by residents groups and politicians, Mr Burnham said: "This is truly a proud day for Middleport and gives the community a sense that progress is being made."

Mr Burnham was welcomed by Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust chairman Chris Dawes.

He told the minister: "Thank you for the enormous health budget in North Staffordshire, but please continue with it for two or three more years so we can continue to put our patients first.

"This centre is just part of a massive project to improve healthcare in North Staffordshire both with buildings like this in the community and a superb state-of-the-art hospital in Hartshill."

New schemes are now being planned at Cobridge, Tunstall and Biddulph.