PATIENTS are promised a brighter future as work gets under way on two surgeries.
Workmen moved onto the site of a new clinic in Barnton recently as a result of plans to relocate the existing memorial hall facilities (see page 11) and work is finally under way preparing the land for a new surgery in the Castle and Winnington area of Northwich.
Health chiefs are delighted and promise they will transform healthcare in the area.
Nicola Morgan, the Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust's facilities manager, said the new Barnton surgery will replace the Oakwood Lane Surgery. She said: 'We realised the GPs at Oakwood Lane were struggling for space and we also hold a clinic in the old memorial hall which is unsuitable for modern medical needs. Both have the same patients, so it makes sense to have it in one centre.
'We looked at various sites and quickly realised the old memorial hall site was good as it is near a lot of residents and a much bigger piece of land.'
LSP Developments is at work on the centre, which will cost about £1m-£1.5m paid for by renting it out to the CCPCT, and it is expected to be open in January. She said: 'Oakwood Lane won't close until the new centre is ready, while we have to be out of the memorial hall by October 21 so some services may have to run from Victoria Infirmary or Weaverham Clinic in the meantime.
'It's an exciting development for the people of Barnton who will have services they haven't been able to access before.'
Work on a surgery on Firdale Road, Winnington, to replace the old clinic on Darwin Street, Castle, is due to start soon. A
lengthy delay was caused when contractors found a drain near the surface of the site.
Mrs Morgan said: 'We identified Firdale Road as a good place to develop a long time ago, but the sewer was too close to the surface so we couldn't built on top.
'Work is now under way to divert the sewer and should be complete by the end of June. Our contractors will then go in and we are hoping that it will be open in the summer of 2006.'
Doctors and patients fought a long campaign for the move. Mrs Morgan added: 'It's difficult for GPs and patients to continue working and visiting the old surgery. They have been very patient as it has been a long process, and we are delighted that finally we are able to go forward with this programme. We can promise some fantastic facilities, both for the GPs and their patients.'
