A STATE-OF-THE-ART sports medicine hub will start seeing its first patients this week.

Spite Southampton Hospital’s £2m sports and exercise facility promises to provide elite services and leading technologies to patients from high-level athletes to weekend warriors across the south.

As previously reported, Perform Southampton, in Millbrook, will offer world-class diagnostic treatments, as well as give access to specialist surgeons, physicians and physiotherapists.

The new centre, in Auckland Road, is set to create two new jobs and is hoping to join forces with Southampton Solent University to provide employment for new graduates.

At the helm will be Dr Mark Wotherspoon, currently club doctor for Southampton Football Club and medical officer to the England cricket team and Dr Steve Baynes, who has worked with the successful Team Sky cycling team.