Runcorn's £33m orthopaedic hospital up and running again (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Halton Hospital celebrates opening of first class orthopaedic centre

6:20pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

A STATE-OF-THE-ART £33 million orthopaedic treatment centre, mothballed for 18 months after a private contract expired, has been officially re-opened by Halton Hospital.

The Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre now provides NHS bone and joint care and operations for patients across the region.

Allan Massey, chairman of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:“We’re delighted to be able to mark the re-opening of this fantastic facility.

“Getting the centre open again for NHS patients took a long time and a lot of work. We now have this first class facility back in use and it is home to one of the best orthopaedic teams in the NHS.”

Halton MP Derek Twigg met patients on Friday as visitors were given a guided tour.

Outpatient services started last summer. Routine orthopaedic surgery were transferred from Warrington hospital in January.

Hip, knee, shoulder, spinal and other joint and bone surgery now takes place every day.

Mr Rajiv Sanger, lead consultant surgeon for orthopaedics, said: “We are providing our first class care in a facility to match.

“Local patients are delighted to be able to have their NHS joint and bone surgery in the centre and we’re providing a service that is completely designed around their needs. We now want local patients to choose to come to us for their care.”

The centre has four operating theatres, a 44 bed ward and outpatient and physiotherapy facilities. MRI and CT scans are also provided to Halton residents from the centre.

A second spinal consultant and a sports medicine expert has been appointed to increase the amount of surgery that is performed.