Call to back plan to bring a new hospital to Halton
RESIDENTS have been urged to get behind a fresh bid for funding to modernise and transform Halton Hospital.
Ambitions to turn the site into a “hospital and wellbeing campus” have been repeatedly snubbed since plans were first unveiled in 2018.
Bosses now hope the redevelopment could be awarded funding alongside a grant to rebuild Warrington Hospital as part of the eight remaining hospital rebuilds to be funded under the Government’s £3.8bn New Hospital Programme.
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WHH) has asked residents to support the bid.
Proposals for the Halton site include demolishing the old hospital building and moving services to an extended Captain Sir Tom Moore Building, formerly the Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre, as well the construction of a nursing home, nursery, rehabilitation centre, community centre, wellness centre, and multigenerational housing, along with pet parks, gardens, woodland walks and cycle paths.
The total project has been estimated to cost £56m, comprising £40m of core funding from the Government plus support from other borough agencies such as Halton Borough Council.
WHH said the Warrington Hospital rebuild would either occupy the existing site or another town centre location.
Simon Constable, WHH chief executive, has called on residents to back the bid.
He said: “We have continuously spoken with residents in both communities and the bid reflects the current and future needs and requirements of residents, patients and staff, but we need strong and vocal support for the bid.
“Our bid will be one of many submitted to become one of only eight new hospitals to be built under the New Hospital Programme and competition will be fierce.
“We have been talking about new hospitals in Halton and Warrington for nearly five years, but now is the time to make that effort a reality.”
Prof Constable added: “Your support for the bid by completing the survey, promoting it on social media or engaging local elected members and the Members of Parliament for the Halton and Warrington communities will show united backing for the strong and robust bid for new hospitals in our communities.”
The views on what services and facilities should be included in the new hospitals should the WHH bid be successful are being sought from patients and members of the public during September and October.
An online survey is online at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BJSPQZ3, and paper-based surveys in alternative languages and formats are available by emailing whh.communications@ nhs.net or calling 01925 662 114.
A final decision on the eight successful bids is expected in spring 2022.