STAFF are preparing to open the doors of a new health centre serving the town.

The Bath Street Health and Wellbeing Centre has been built on the former Victorian Warrington baths and will serve around 6,500 registered patients.

The building is expected to be up and running by Christmas and will incorporate what used to be the Bewsey Street Medical Centre and Garven Place, Sankey Street.

New features include bigger doors and chairs to suit the needs of disabled and overweight/obese patients, a breast screening clinic rather than women having to go to a mobile unit and rooms with soft furnishings to make them feel less clinical and reduce the anxiety of mental health patients and anyone with weight management problems.

The building will become a base for around 20 district nurses as well as providing dental services including special care dentistry, paediatric dentistry, out-of-hours dentistry and minor oral surgery to around 600 patients a month.

Dr Sarah Baker, chief clinical officer at Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We’re delighted that Bath Street Health and Wellbeing Centre is now welcoming patients.

“The £7m centre is a one-stop health shop providing GP, community and dental services, as well as specialist services and a pharmacy, all under one town centre roof.

“We’ve listened to the public and our NHS staff and are proud to provide modern, state-of-the-art facilities that meet the local community’s needs and will help improve the health and wellbeing of Warrington people.”