By Aline Nassif and Michel Narvaez

aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk

THE borough's first ever polyclinic opens today (Friday), with the expectation that at least 30,000 patients will use it in its first year.

Edridge Road, in Croydon, is now home to the GP-led health centre which will be open from 8am until 8pm every day of the year.

NHS chiefs expect residents and commuters to use it for minor injuries, illness and sexual health checks.

The biggest draw will be the Edridge Road Community Health Centre's new GP surgery offering bookable and walk-in appointments for both registered and unregistered patients.

It is estimated that 6,000 people will sign up to the in-house GP practice over the next five years.

Other services – which will become available later in the year – include a pharmacy, an emergency dental service and breast screening.

Sue Arnold, director of primary care commissioning at NHS Croydon, said: "It's going to be a really great health facility and we are so excited about it.

"The centre is right in the heart of central Croydon and the extended opening hours will allow everyone to access a range of important healthcare services at a time that suits them.

"You don't want to be sitting in a hospital environment if you don't need to – most people want to know they can see the right professional and get the right treatment."

It is hoped the polyclinic will attract non-emergency patients who are clogging up Mayday Hospital's A&E, which sees more than 100,000 people each year.

Mrs Arnold explained that at least 50 per cent of accident and emergency patients are seeking treatment for complaints that are more suited to GP care.

She said: "The new GP-led health centre is in spacious, modern surroundings, and there is room for expansion if the demand for its services increases.

"To start with we are expecting a minimum of 30,000 visitors a year, but that number is likely to grow."

As the polyclinic opens, the NHS walk-in centre in Croydon High Street, which was offering some of the same services, closes.

One small hitch with the location of the new polyclinic is a lack of parking. Earlier this year, local residents complained that thousands of patients and ambulance drop-offs would compound the shortage of parking bays in their streets.

Mrs Arnold says she is aware of the concerns and will work with residents to find a solution if the situation proves problematic.

The Edridge Road centre is one of three polyclinics planned for Croydon.

Two "urgent care centres", with more diagnostic equipment like x-ray machines, have been earmarked for the Mayday Hospital site in Thornton Heath for 2011, and the Purley Hospital site for 2012 or 2013.