PATIENTS could soon be operated on at their council office instead of in a hospital theatre, it was revealed yesterday.

Sunderland is set to become the first city in the country to offer an extensive range of medical procedures alongside regular local authority services.

Patients will be offered surgery for minor skin ailments and treatment for minor accidents, while also getting advice on council tax, bins and streetlights.

There will also be a 24-hour walk-in accident and emergency service, a GP surgery, outpatient services, a pharmacy and a gymnasium.

The facilities will be in the £10.7m Bunny Hill Centre, the second in a new generation of so-called Peoplefirst multipurpose centres being pioneered by Sunderland City Council.

The centre is the result of a partnership between the council, Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust and the City Hospitals NHS Trust.

Council leader Bob Symonds said: "We are really excited by the range of services which will be on offer in this new centre.

"With its extensive range of council, public and voluntary sector services and facilities all under one roof, the Bunny Hill Centre will take the original concept of the 'one-stop shop' to a whole new level by creating a 'first-stop shop' offering a seamless service."

David Hall, from Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: "In time, we hope there will be a number of such facilities located at strategic points around the city."

The Government has pledged to create more than 60 NHS walk-in centres.