WARRINGTON and Runcorn will NOT be getting new hospitals as a bid for funding has been snubbed by the Government again.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says it is disappointed to learn that it has been not been included in the latest funding round of the Government’s New Hospitals Programme.

Hospital trusts in urgent need of redevelopment due to health and safety risks associated with RAAC – reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete roofing – have been prioritised in this funding round.

This vital investment would have presented Warrington and Halton with a unique opportunity to address significant challenges within the current hospital estate.

This includes a lack of appropriate physical space to serve the fastest growing population in Cheshire, especially in the urgent and emergency care pathway through Warrington Hospital.

The investment would have allowed the trust to build a new £300million acute hospital in Warrington and a redeveloped hospital and wellbeing campus in Halton, both built to modern specifications and fully equipped with the latest technology and treatments.

Just five new hospitals will be built in the latest funding round, with the Government confirming Leighton in Crewe will be getting a new hospital over worries about the safety of its roof.

Addressing the news, the trust said it recognises that it is absolutely essential that hospitals with urgent health and safety challenges are addressed first.

However, it said the pressing need to create modern, sustainable and compliant estate which is fit for purpose and can deliver the best healthcare for the residents of Warrington and Halton remains.

Professor Simon Constable, the trust’s chief executive, said: “We are disappointed not to have been included in today’s funding announcement for new hospital estate for the people of Warrington and Halton.

“The outcome of this latest funding round does not change the fact that our aging estate needs significant modernisation.

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“We are committed to continuing to work alongside key stakeholders and partners to identify further opportunities to develop our aspirations so that we can meet the evolving needs of residents, tackle health inequalities, and support the regeneration of our towns and communities.

“However, it should be considered that the progress we have made with partners in getting to this stage leaves us in a good position for the future, enabling the development of an alternative route to delivery with the same level of ambition.

“We continue to maximise opportunities to progress our plans by changing and adapting how and where we deliver care.

“This includes investing to make the most appropriate and effective use of scarce clinical space for urgent and emergency care at Warrington Hospital and the introduction of new community facilities, such as the new Living Well Hub in Warrington town centre which is scheduled to open later this year, and the creation of a Health and Education Hub in Runcorn town centre.”

The Government has announced that going forward, new schemes, including those who have previously submitted an expression of interest, will be considered through a rolling programme of capital investment in hospital infrastructure.

Graham Urwin, Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, added: “NHS Cheshire and Merseyside had previously identified Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as its priority site for improvement, and we will be seeking to move forward with this as soon as it is practical.”