NORTHWICH is to get a new, state of the art community hospital and inpatient unit.

Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust has given the go-ahead to appoint a developer to manage the project.

The Trust will be looking at new and improved facilities in a number of area including: Modern primary care and community hospital facilities Increasing access to a range of responsive services Providing support at home or in purpose-built community beds.

Expanding community teams to support people with long term conditions Increased access to diagnostic and outpatient facilities in the community and providing a base for community mental health teams to support service users at home Sue Noyce, project lead on behalf of the primary care trust, said "As the project moves to the next stage, we will be actively involving local people at every opportunity. This development is about improving local access to a much wider range of services, taking advantage of new technologies, and bringing services together to provide care more efficiently".

Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall has welcomed the move.

He said: "For some time now there has been concern about the future of the Victoria Infirmary Northwich and in particular the retention of in-patient beds.

"The decision to provide a new purpose built community hospital with an in-patient unit in Northwich is great news for the town."

No decisions have been taken about where the new hospital will be sited and the developer will be investigating a number of options and potential locations including building next to the Victoria Infirmary.

If you would like to become involved in the project, contact Geoff Wood on 01606 275281, or a-mail geoff.wood@cecpct.nhs.uk.