WEST Oxford residents are impressed with their new £11m health clinic.

The Walton Street building, which has taken one year to build, houses the new Jericho Health Centre.

The ground-floor surgery also includes nursing services, Oxford University’s Department of Public Health Care and new Oxford University Press offices.

Nicky White, practice manager for Dr Chivers and Dr Parker, said: “It’s a beautiful new building and we’re settling in well.

“Hopefully it will be a nicer environment for our patients.”

The centre brings together three practices from West Oxford in one building, including 12 GPs and more than 13,350 patients.

New facilities include a larger waiting room with wheelchair access, patient-operated blood pressure testing machines and a dedicated child health clinic room.

The university agreed to build a health centre facing Walton Street when it bought the site of the old Radcliffe Infirmary from the NHS in 2003.

Practice nurse Angela Roome said: “It’s phenomenal.

It’s just a more workable space, and it’s fit for purpose which the old one wasn’t.”

The new building, which opened on Tuesday, has also made the 18th century Radcliffe Observatory visible from Walton Street.

Anne Mobbs, 74, from Cardigan Street, opposite the site, said: “What I love is the new view.

“How often does a new building change a view for the better?”

The Jericho Watch Association raised concerns that the building did not complement its historic surroundings.

But retired Janet Warren, 65, from Marrivale Square said: “I don’t agree with that. The colour of the bricks is okay.

“Inside it is spacious and clean.”

The building was designed by London architects Hawkins Brown, and built by construction firm Longcross.

Paul Goodenough, project manager, said: “To see the patients using the building happy and safe is what we’re here for.

“We’ll be here for another couple of weeks to help with anything from hanging a notice board to making sure they can use a phone line.”