ANDY Burnham MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health has visited the two new urgent care centres being created in Halton.

Construction is underway at Halton Hospital in Runcorn, expected to open early in spring 2015, and at the Healthcare Resource Centre in Widnes, due to open shortly afterwards in the summer.

The facilities will provide the borough’s 126,000 patients with specialist medical treatment seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Diagnostic scans, x-rays and ultrasound will be available so many casualties will no longer have to go to accident and emergency.

Elderly people who suffer complex problems such as heart and respiratory conditions will be seen closer to home if they feel unwell.

Mr Burnham commended the partnership work of NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Halton Council.

He said: ‘‘In order to fully sustain the future of the NHS, we need whole health communities to embrace integration.

"The project to open the urgent care centres in Halton shows how a wider health economy can work together to deliver the best health and social care services for the people of the borough.’’

The CCG and Council have worked with key partners, including Bridgewater Community NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust, Warrington and Halton Hospitals Foundation Trust and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, to try to tackle the increasing strain on hospital services and improve patient experience by working together.

Simon Banks, chief officer of Halton CCG, said: “Andy visited the borough two years ago when we were a fledgling organisation.

“ It has been great to have him come back and see the difference we have made in collaboration with our partners.’

“The project to bring the two new urgent care centres to Halton has been a challenging one. However it is now starting to take shape as the building works continue.’’

Halton Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill said:”The people of Halton are at the centre of every decision we make both as a local authority and as a partnership with other organisations like NHS Halton CCG.’’

"To show the progress of what we have achieved together is testament to the hard work of all involved.”