Major development for Wirral hospital to go before council planners

After lengthy consultation the scheme is now ready to be studied by Wirral Council planning committee.

in July of last year, Wirral Primary Care Trust launched a 12-week consultation exercise to seek the views of the public, patients, partners and staff on its plans to build a new community hospital, fit for the 21st century.

Constructed at a cost of £32m, the new health centre would provide a new home for clinical services currently housed in outdated Victorian buildings on the Church Road site.

It would also enable local people to access a range of new services including outpatient clinics, minor and day case surgery facilities, X-rays and other tests, and health and lifestyle advice closer to where they live.

In addition, there would be two GP practices, a pharmacy as well as a walk-in centre.

The proposals involve building a new health centre in the centre of the St Catherine’s site in Tranmere.

Once completed, clinical services now housed in Victorian buildings would relocate there and the buildings would then be demolished making way for a new car park.

If all goes to plan, the new health centre would open its doors in 2012.

The scheme already has the support of Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead, who said last year: "I very much welcome the proposed development at St Catherine's.

"This would not only improve health services for my constituents that live downtown, but also bring in first class services and modern buildings that will benefit the whole of Wirral.

"This development shows a proper commitment from the PCT on how best to maximise the value of the St Catherine's site."

Kathy Doran, Chief Executive of NHS Wirral, added: “These are exciting times we have ahead. NHS Wirral is committed to further improving health services and accommodation for the 330,000 or so people of Wirral.”

The scheme is recommended for approval by officers and will be studied by planning councillors on September 10.