A new health hub based out of Runcorn shopping centre in Cheshire is almost ready for launch as the NHS continue their efforts to make healthcare more accessible than ever in this time of crisis.
The new Halton Health Hub will be run by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and will host a range of services, including diabetic, audiology, and ophthalmology.
It is hoped that the health hub will make outpatient services more readily available, which will in turn increase the number of patients seen subsequently improving the patient experience.
In addition to optimising capacity, the new healthcare facility will support the rejuvenation of Runcorn shopping centre by repurposing vacant space ultimately increasing overall footfall and regenerating the local community.
Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Lucy Gardner, said: “Offering these services in a retail environment will make it easier for patients to access these services, some of which will be expanded to offer a greater range and volume of tests.
“Most importantly, Halton residents will no longer have to travel out of the borough to receive elements of audiology, dietetics, or ophthalmology care.
“We know Halton residents are passionate about Halton Hospital, and this is a real positive development for the hospital, in line with our programme of expanding and further developing Halton as a dedicated planned care site.
A public consultation in the summer of 2021 revealed that local residents strongly supported the development of the Halton Health Hub, with almost two-thirds of the respondents saying they backed the proposals.
The public identified a breadth of key concerns including accessibility, disabled parking, and signposting – conclusions drawn from the consultation informed the ultimate design and construction of the healthcare centre.
The trust are expecting to take over the project before the end of this month.
