Outpatient services on the doorstep

PEOPLE in the Culcheth area can now access some hospital outpatient services in their own community.
Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is providing clinic services at Culcheth Clinic, Jackson Avenue. This means patients can have an initial appointment with a hospital specialist without having to travel to Warrington Hospital.
Initially the service is providing clinics in paediatrics (children’s services) and colorectal services. This will expand into elderly care, diabetes, rheumatology and ear dressing in the coming weeks.
Local GPs can refer patients to the new services through the Choose and Book system. Current clinic schedules are paediatrics on alternate Wednesday afternoons and the colorectal service once a month on Thursdays.
The move is part of the hospital’s drive to work with GPs to try to provide services in the community. The hospital has been providing some outpatient services at Newton Community Hospital for some time and non-maternity ultrasound services at Stockton Heath Medical Centre.
Chris Knights, director of business development and strategy at the Trust, said: “We’re really pleased to introduce this service at Culcheth which we hope will prove popular with local patients. It means that if they live in the area and the towns nearby they have the option to get their specialist appointment locally without having to travel to hospital. We are bringing the expertise of the hospital to them.
“We’re working closely with GPs to look at opportunities like this to make services as convenient as possible.”