HEALTH chiefs have issued a warning over huge challenges facing Warrington as it prepares to house an extra 24,300 residents by 2039.

And they admitted the borough’s health and social care budget will have a £48 million gap by 2021 – if services continue operating in the current manner.

However, Warrington Together – a new partnership of health and care partners across the borough – is confident that it can address key issues facing the town.

The partners are working collaboratively to integrate care, improve outcomes for residents and eradicate areas of duplication.

One of the challenges they are facing is the increasing population.

Warrington’s population totalled 206,428 in 2014 and rose to 208,800 in 2016.

The current estimate is 209,700 but it is expected to see a 27,600 rise between 2014 to 2039.

It would result in an extra 24,328 residents living in the town, from the current total.

The anticipated increase in demand formed part of a report giving an update on Warrington Together, which came before the health and wellbeing board at the Town Hall on Thursday.

It said: “Warrington has a long history of attempting to work more collaboratively and in trying to develop integrated care.

“Various attempts have been made unsuccessfully in the last five years to do this, however, there was slow progress in the system with little to show in terms of improved outcomes for residents.

“There has always been a desire from partners to collaborate but previous initiatives have failed to produce the desired results.

“The public health landscape in Warrington has a number of associated challenges.

“The population is rising, with an expected increase of 13 per cent, an extra 27,600 people, between 2014 and 2039, with the largest increases expected in the older population.

“In addition, there are a number of financial challenges for providers and commissioners in Warrington.

“£360 million is spent every year on health and social care in the borough but it is estimated that by 2021, if we continue to deliver services in the same way, we will have a financial gap of approximately £48 million.”

Warrington’s life expectancy gap – the difference between the highest and lowest ward estimates – is 11 years for women and 9.8 years for men.

Steve Peddie, the council’s executive director for families and wellbeing, said it is crucial to address the gap during Thursday’s meeting.

He also raised concerns over the gap potentially getting wider despite the borough becoming ‘more well off’, as well as the extra demand in the town as the population increases.

“It is not all about money but money is massively important because we need to achieve financial sustainability across the health and social care sector,” he added.

“It is not just about the numbers, it is also about the complexity of the population we are dealing with.”