AMBITIOUS plans to create a ‘health and wellbeing campus’ are set to secure the future of Halton Hospital, the World can exclusively reveal.

It is part of a trailblazing scheme to develop a ‘healthy new town’ in Runcorn to encourage people to keep fit, improve their diets and live independently into old age.

The government-funded programme has earmarked Halton Lea as one of 10 places in the UK where partners from health and social care, retail, leisure, housing and regeneration are being challenged to revitalise care in the community.

Health chiefs are confident the hospital project will help tackle obesity and dementia and keep people at home, with specialist support, for longer.

The news comes just days after hospital chief Mel Pickup said they were considering plans for a new state-of-the-art Warrington Hospital.

A site has not yet been chosen for this development.

But architects are now being challenged to come up with designs for a new health ‘village’ to be built beside 800 new eco homes at Halton Lea.

Health partners have teamed up with Halton Council to transform the way health and social care is delivered.

The aim is to ensure people don’t go to hospital unless they absolutely have to and provide sufficient support in the community.

The vision will develop the council’s ‘One Halton’ model which encourages people to take responsibility for their own health, making sure they know where to go to seek help and advice.

Simon Banks, chief officer of NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Imagine a facility where people can access what they need, where and when they need it.

“Here care resources have been shifted to the community where we can deliver seamless care enabled by digital solutions and where we can realise much needed financial savings for the pressured NHS by making more efficient use of resources.”

The existing Runcorn Urgent Care Centre and Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre, renowned for orthopaedic procedures, would be included in the new look development.

The psychiatric unit at the Brooker Centre and neighbouring Weaver Vale and Brookvale GP practices will also play a key role.

Mel Pickup, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make Halton Hospital’s site the focal point for the health and wellbeing of current and future communities and keep people independent for as long as possible.

“We recognise that there is a long way to go but the immediate next step is to organise a design challenge and involve the people who live and work in Halton and who will use or deliver the services in its creation.

“We urge everyone to get involved and join us in creating something that we can all be proud of – a rich health and social care legacy for Halton.”

David Parr, chief executive of Halton Council, said they hope to provide an environment ‘where individuals and families can flourish and thrive’.

He added: “The Healthy New Towns programme, being led by Halton Council, represents the efforts of a wide range of partners across the health and social care, retail and leisure, housing and regeneration sectors.

“This partnership approach is helping to shape a whole system, community based approach to regeneration across the area with improved housing choices, better access to green space and community facilities, novel approaches to social care and health, as well as providing an environment where individuals and families can flourish and thrive.

“The overall approach has received backing from council leaders, elected members, communities and a range of partners.”