DOCTOR David Wilson swapped his stethoscope for a spade to mark the start of work on Hamble's new state-of-the-art surgery.

The surgery in Satchell Lane, due to open in March 2006, will be a one-stop shop for local health services, providing twice the number of treatment rooms currently available, an on-site dispensing service and a patient education room.

It is hoped that an NHS dentist will also provide a dental service from the site.

The practice is looking to provide a range of other services including physiotherapy, orthopaedic triage, podiatry, a dermatology service and Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Senior partner Dr Wilson and colleagues Simon Goodison and Anne Lennon were joined by Lynne Lockyer, chairman of the Eastleigh and Test Valley Primary Care Trust, for the turf-cutting ceremony.

Also present were representatives from developer Brackley Investments, and Hound and Hamble parish councils.

Dr Goodison said practice staff were delighted that work was under way on the new surgery, which will replace the current Blackthorn Surgery in Hamble and the sister practice in Netley.

He said: "We have out-grown our existing premises and desperately need more space to provide improved primary health care.

"We felt that the best solution was to merge the two practices on one site.

"We are delighted to have secured a plot next to Hamble Secondary School on Satchell Lane."