Health centre at former Frodsham High School site to be stripped back due to financial considerations

Jan 21 2010 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

FINANCIAL problems have forced a rethink over plans for a multi-million-pound health centre in Frodsham.

It was hoped the new site would become a one-stop health-shop and feature a wide range of community health and welfare services under one roof, but cash constraints have led to the original proposals being stripped back.

Paul Smith, practice manager at The Knoll surgery, which will be moving to the former Frodsham High School development, said: “Some of the services have been removed due to the financial considerations and the overall size of the building has been reduced by about 30%.

“No dental or physio therapy services will be included.

“But we will be setting up new services to be brought closer to patients from the hospitals.”

“We are currently working on proposals to start these services early in the new financial year with colleagues from The Rock Surgery and the Helsby and Elton Practice.”

Demolition of the Frodsham High School site is almost complete and developers are aiming to have the health centre up and running by next year after the scheme was granted planning permission by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning board earlier this month.

Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust’ sdirector of finance, economic and market development, Iain Crossley, said: “We are very pleased with this outcome and look forward to working with GPs to develop this as soon as we can.”