Halton set for new health centre (From Warrington Guardian)

Halton set for new health centre

A £10m health centre carrying out 5,000 orthopaedic operations a year is set to be built in Halton Hospital.

The government announced the preferred bidder before final negotiations begin, with work set to start in summer 2005.

Orthopaedic surgery is surgery on bones and joints, such as hip operations. It is part of a national programme to build 80 centres to ease pressure on the NHS.

Health Minister John Hutton said: "This is good news for patients who will benefit from speedier treatment and a choice of where they are treated.

"These treatment centres will provide extra staff and extra capacity to help the NHS carry out more orthopaedic operations."

The preferred bidder is Interhealth Care Services, a joint venture between Interhealth Canada Ltd and Jarvis PLC.

Interhealth spokesman Steve Lynch said: "Currently the patients will likely be treated in local hospitals, the problem is the government is increasing its targets so more people have to be treated more quickly.

"It's all about reducing the amount of time people have to wait for treatment."

When all 80 centres are built they will carry out up to 250,000 operations a year.