HOSPITAL chiefs have discussed plans for a new state-of-the-art hospital in the town with the health minister.

Warrington South MP Andy Carter hosted a meeting between Edward Argar, senior figures from Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the council’s director of growth Steve Park yesterday to talk about the proposals.

It comes following a £4.3 million funding boost for the trust to support A&E capacity ahead of winter.

Chairman of the trust Steve McGuirk said it was a really positive step to be able to make the case to the minister for a new hospital in Warrington.

He said: “The recent funding for A&E services was most welcome, but we have a vision at the trust for a new state-of-the-art hospital that can meet future demand and be a more welcoming place for residents.

“The team have been working hard on business cases for two developments across Warrington & Halton and we will continue to work with partners to push the Government to allow us to get them over the line.”

Anticipated growth in population alongside a growing backlog of capital work means the need to address the future health care needs of the town is increasingly important.

A strategic board – which includes representatives from the council, CCG and representatives from Halton – has been launched with a view to engaging with people and providing the right services for the town into the future.

Conservative Mr Carter said: “Following my recent question in the House of Commons, I was pleased to get the opportunity to speak to the minister with senior members of the trust and local council yesterday.

“This will certainly be a long-term project for us and these are the right first steps to engage with the Department for Health, but I’m pushing strongly for more funding to be released so that the hospital can complete its business case work and we can move towards development.

“We were also able to make the case that a new hospital would not only combat health challenges across the town but would also be a key facet around regeneration of the town centre, freeing up land for housing in the process and acting as a catalyst for a new partnership with the University of Chester.”