CANCER patients in Warrington will have to travel out of town for chemotherapy treatment.

As part of a £15 million package of services announced for North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, cancer patients will receive chemotherapy at Halton Hospital not at Warrington.

The investment, which will see Warrington Hospital become a centre of excellence for emergency care, will mean some services like planned medicine and endoscopies are moved to Halton.

Warrington will gain a new kidney dialysis unit with 12 dialysis stations and a purpose-built critical care unit removing the need to transfer patients to other hospitals because of a lack of available beds.

Hospital bosses have pledged 'a firm commitment' to patient transport solutions.

Concerns have already been raised about transport issues for Warrington patients travelling out of town for care and the trust has agreed to provide a shuttle bus for patients between the two sites.

Trust bosses continue to work with Warrington Borough Council's health committee in a bid to strengthen transport arrangements after members called for more detailed work' in the area.

Bosses claim that the changes will not result in any redundancies but admitted that there would be a reduction in the number of posts.

Trust chairman Allan Massey said that the reduction would be achieved through consultation with staff and measures such as not filling posts when they become vacant to avoid any job losses.