WARRINGTON’S ageing population is creating major challenges for the town’s health commissioners in the face of budget cuts.

The latest population count revealed the number of people in the borough totals 209,700 – 50.4 per cent female and 49.6 per cent male.

According to the Office for National Statistics’ figures, 18.3 per cent are aged 65 and over – which is 18.4 per cent in the north west and 18.2 per cent in England.

Furthermore, out of the 18.3 per cent who are aged 65 and over, 2.6 per cent are 80-84, 1.6 per cent are 85-89 and 1.1 per cent are older than 90.

It brings the number of residents in the borough over 90 to slightly more than 2,300.

Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group – which commissions and has responsibility for NHS services used by residents – highlighted the importance of working with partners.

“In line with the national NHS picture, we’re experiencing the challenge of an ageing and growing population who are living longer with more complex needs,” said a spokeswoman.

“We’re working with our partners and patients to review the current situation and how we adapt our models of care for the benefit of people.”

It says the work being carried out is in line with the NHS ten-year plan, which aims to assist people to ‘age well’.

The spokeswoman said: “Both nationally and locally, we know that more people are living longer and there are more people with disabilities who need care and support, at the same time as funding reductions in real terms for social care.”

The NHS body also believes the borough ‘will only be able to address’ the need of a growing and ageing population through partnership work.

“We are doing this through an alliance of health and care partners called Warrington Together,” added the spokeswoman.

“Supporting people to ‘age well’ is a key component of Warrington Together’s plan.”

Those involved in the Warrington Together partnership include Warrington Borough Council, Warrington CCG, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North West Boroughs NHS Foundation Trust, the Alliance of Warrington Voluntary Providers, housing providers, Warrington Healthwatch and Primary Care.