Developers submit bid for health supercentre to serve Frodsham and Helsby

Dec 3 2009 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

A DECISION on a state-of-the-art health supercentre serving homeowners in Frodsham and Helsby will be made in January.

Plans for the multi-million-pound ‘one-stop’ facility have been entered by Chester based developers City Heart and Community Solutions and it will be heard at a planning committee on Tuesday, January 5.

Anne-Marie Storey of the Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust said: “We can confirm that the developers have submitted a detailed planning application to build the new Frodsham and Helsby Health Centre.

“The Primary Care Trust fully supports the application and understands it will be considered by the council’s planning group in January.

“We also expect to approve the business case for the new health centre from the Rock and Knoll GP practices in January, with a view to getting the developers to commence on-site in February/March with building work completed by April/May 2011.

“We had already assessed the type of services the building is likely to have, the kind of accommodation needed to house them and had a detailed specification drawn up.

“This was shared with local organisations and individuals as part of the pre-planning consultation process.”

It will bring family doctors from Frodsham’s Rock and Knoll GP surgeries, and a wide range of health and welfare services, under one roof – including district nurses, school nurses, health visitors, blood testing, dental services, family planning and sexual health and children’s services.

Diabetic services and mental health services, including counselling for eating disorders and drugs misuse will also be included.

Some hospital-based services will also be available at the centre, including outpatients department, minor surgery, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

There will also be diagnostics and treatment for minor injuries, as well as podiatry, dietetics and weight management, speech and language therapy for assessment and education, intermediate care team, rapid response team and palliative care.

In all 70 staff will work at the centre, which will be built using locally sourced natural, energy efficient, materials as well as use renewable energy sources for power, heat and sustainable drainage systems.