Look around Victoria Infirmary Northwich's new surgical centre

The Northwich & Winsford Guardian was invited to take an exclusive look around the new Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Victoria Infirmary.

When it opens next spring, the centre will help reduce waiting lists by treating up to 12,000 patients a year.

Gemma Morgan-Lees, general manager of the VIN, said: “The establishment of the surgical centre at Victoria Infirmary is a key priority for the trust, reflecting our dedication to enhancing healthcare services in our local communities.

"The VIN has been a cornerstone of Northwich and its surrounding areas for many years, and we are committed to continuing this legacy by offering as many local services as possible."

The new surgical centre is expected to open next Spring (Image: NQ)

The new centre will boast two advanced operating theatres, one of which is dedicated to cataract surgery.

The second is ‘multi-speciality’, accommodating orthopaedics, ENT, dermatology, general surgery, and pain management.

There will also be a dedicated treatment room for eye injections.

Ms Morgan-Lees says that in the past, patients had to travel as far as Liverpool to get the treatment they needed.

“This development not only aims to improve access to high-quality surgical care but also reinforces our commitment to providing essential services within a convenient proximity to the patients we serve,” she added.

“By bringing such facilities closer to home, we hope to ensure that patients receive timely and efficient care, thereby improving their overall health outcomes and reinforcing their connection to the healthcare system.”

This room will become one of the two new operating theatres (Image: NQ)

Alongside the new surgical centre, work is taking place to restore the Verdin Ward.

The building takes its name from philanthropist, Robert Verdin, who in 1886, donated the house to the town for use as a hospital.

It has been out of use for more than a decade now.

Andrew Deakin, head of capital development at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, told the Guardian it would have been cheaper to demolish the building and start over.

However, he says the trust ‘saw value in bringing it back to the community’.

He also admitted there have been some unexpected issues along the way, including bats, rot and Japanese knotweed, which pushed the project back by around a year.

The Verdin Ward is being restored (Image: NQ)

Nick Backhouse, site manager at Kier Construction, added: "This historic building holds significant value to the local community and will serve as a top-notch healthcare facility for the region.

“Delivering its transformation for the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a true privilege.

“We’ve meticulously repaired the original structural timber frame with the help of a specialist contractor, completely replaced the old roof with a new one that mirrors the original slate design, and revitalised the external walls with new sash windows and fresh paintwork.

“The external timbers now beautifully reflect the building’s faux Tudor style from its heyday.”

The building was donated to Northwich by Robert Verdin in 1886 (Image: NQ)

Once the construction work is complete, 31 parking spaces will be returned to the hospital for patient use.

While there is limited space available, the trust say they are ‘exploring sustainable long-term solutions to enhance the parking’.

Until then, patients are encouraged to arrange drop-offs when feasible while car-sharing is being encouraged among staff to alleviate current pressures.