THE PRIME Minister was in Stockton today to officially open a £5.2m super-surgery.

A beaming Mr Blair shook hands with health workers and patients as NHS officials showed him around the new Lawson Street Health Centre.

The PM was particularly interested to see how facilities such as a musculo-skeletal service and diabetic retinopathy screening service are taking the pressure off hospitals.

Mr Blair asked pensioner Beryl Bell from Norton what she thought about being seen at her local health centre instead of at hospital.

Mrs Bell replied: "You get treated here a lot quicker."

Dr Rob Sagoo, one of the GPs based at the surgery, said: "We are able to give patients with musculoskeletal complaints more time than they would get at hospital."

In a meeting with staff Mr Blair described the new centre as a big asset to local people, a building to be proud of.

Community matron Linda Fairhall said: "We have a patient who was in hospital 11 times. That same patient has not been in hospital for a whole year once we took over care."

However, Sister Hilda Wappett, told the Prime Minister that community based care was not always suitable if the patient was elderly and living on their own.

Lawson Street Health Centre houses three GP practices including a specialist practice which helps problem drug users and their families.

At the end of his brief visit Mr Blair unveiled a plaque and planted a tree.

He told staff and patients: "Congratulations for everybody who has been involved in setting up this centre. I think this is a quite excellent facility. In a community where there are a lot of challenges, to have a facility like this is absolutely fantastic."

Mr Blair said the only way to protect the NHS was to move with the times.