NURSE-led clinics and therapy services at health centres across west Warrington could be centralised if residents back a new plan.

People in Westbrook, Whittle Hall, Great Sankey, Penketh, Cuerdley and Burtonwood are being asked their views about primary health care by Warrington's PCT because a new health centre to serve Chapelford could be built.

However, another proposal to build a larger health centre offering nurse-led clinics and therapy centres for all west Warrington residents, rather than at each GP practice as currently happens, is also an option.

GP services will be unaffected by whichever option is chosen.

The two choices are:

l A health centre to replace the current Chapelford Primary Care Centre on Burtonwood Road. There would be no changes to primary healthcare services in the rest of west Warrington. Waiting times, choice of appointments and access would remain the same.

l A larger health centre to provide some services to the whole of west Warrington, such as nurse-led treatment clinics, mental health nursing, minor surgery like vasectomies and some work traditionally done at the hospital - for example, dermatology and some diagnostic procedures.

Allison Cooke, PCT chief executive, said: "There are some real benefits in developing a much larger facility in Chapelford, but it will mean that some people may have to travel further.

"We need to understand what that will mean to patients and their families."

For more information, or a copy of the consultation document, contact the PCT's patient advice and liaison co-ordinator, Val Harper, on freephone 0800 389 6973, or log on to www.warrington-pct.nhs.uk

/haveyoursay. The consultations end on December 1, 2005.