The striking new centre, on the site of the former ambulance depot in Victoria Street, will allow staff to offer more services to patients than was possible at the former surgery next to Seaview Primary School.

The centre will offer chiropody, community clinic, minor surgery and pharmacy services. There will also be rooms for visiting health care professionals and a health education room.

There will be parking for more than 60 cars.

The site was first identified three years ago, but legal negotiations over leasing arrangements dragged on and the main contractors, Stewart Milne Construction Ltd, only began work at the turn of the year.

The cross-shaped building was designed by Edinburgh architects Campbell Arnott and is part single and part two-storey. It has been developed in collaboration with the Monfieth Medical Practice, NHS Tayside Primary Care, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the developer Medical Centres Ltd.

The former centre is likely to be turned into health service offices.

As with any move, there is likely to be some disruption during the changeover.

Patients are being warned that the practice will have limited access to computers during the week beginning November 24 and are being urged to order any repeat prescriptions in advance, even if it means ordering a month early.

On Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, the practice will only operate emergency surgeries, at which only urgent cases can be seen.