Publish date: 7 October 2021
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to future investment in Victoria Infirmary, Northwich, after reluctantly concluding that a proposed relocation to Weaver Square in the town centre, is unaffordable without reducing the scale of services provided.
The Trust Board has instead decided to develop the existing Victoria Infirmary site in stages, as it will need to continue operating during the planned upgrade. And, after a successful bid for funding, Mid Cheshire Hospitals is pleased to announce that it’s due to receive an additional £1.7 million to extend diagnostic services at the infirmary.
James Sumner, Mid Cheshire’s Chief Executive, said: “After working closely with Cheshire West and Chester Council on the plans for Weaver Square, we are naturally disappointed that we can’t make the scheme financially viable in the town centre, while retaining and improving the level of service provision we currently have. The Trust has committed to improving services in Northwich and we will now do that through redeveloping and upgrading the existing site.”
“We have appointed a design team and expert construction partners, who are looking at how we can enhance the existing Victoria site in stages over the coming years, without affecting current services but importantly bringing it up to date, in line with modern healthcare standards. We look forward to sharing more details on this as the proposals take shape.”
As part of the of the new diagnostic funding, patients will get faster access to the tests they need, often closer to home. The recovery of services and reducing the waiting list backlog are immediate priorities for the Trust and its partners – these expanded services will offer many patients a ‘one-stop shop’ for multiple tests.
Mid Cheshire’s Hospital Redevelopment Board will oversee the future proposals for Victoria Infirmary as they emerge in the coming months.
