The centre has about 130 beds
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A �39m state-of-the-art centre for treating heart problems has opened in the South West.
The first patients have moved into the Southwest Cardiothoracic Centre, based at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital.
It has units for cardiac surgical intensive care and coronary care, a research and development centre and student accommodation.
Medical director Terence Lewis said it replaced cramped conditions previously used for heart surgery in the city.
The centre is part of the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Plymouth Area Health Community project to modernise and improve the healthcare services.
It has 104 beds among the centre's four wards and another 28 in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit, high-dependency unit and the coronary care unit.
Isolation rooms will be used to contain infections.
Mr Lewis said: "Heart surgery has been undertaken in Plymouth for nine years but in facilities that were small and cramped and the demand was so considerable that the unit soon became too small in a short time.
"This is a massive milestone in the development of services for heart patients in the South West peninsula."
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