AFTER quarter of a century working as a GP in an end-of-terrace house in a former pit village it was something of a red letter day for Dr Pathikonda Nath MBE when his £300,000 surgery officially opened.

But even he could not have expected one of the most powerful men in the country, Health Secretary Alan Milburn, to turn up for the occasion.

The people of Craghead, near Stanley, have registered their approval for the facility by joining both Dr Nath's and colleague Dr Rashid Dhuny's separate practices in the building.

The NHS building, which opened to the public last year, was part-funded by the Private Finance Initiative and boasts state-of-the-art equipment.

Speaking at the centre, Dr Nath said: "I was practising in the most unsuitable circumstances for more than 20 years. Now at last we have this beautiful building with enough light, space and equipment. I have to thank a lot of people who have helped me make this dream come true."

Alan Milburn spoke to the an audience made up of NHS workers, leading NHS managers, councillors and members of the public. He said: "I'm pleased to be in 'Cragheed' if I can get the pronunciation right, although it's not too much of a problem for me as I come from Tow Law. Now, that really is the back of beyond.

"A lot of people have put a huge effort into improving facilities in the area and that really is long overdue.

"People talk a lot about new hospitals but the vast majority of people thankfully never go anywhere near hospitals, they come to places like this."