MORE choice is being offered to the residents of central Cheshire who require orthopaedic surgery.

The Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Treatment Centre is a new orthopaedic hospital based on the site of Halton Hospital in Runcorn.

It opened its doors to NHS patients at the beginning of the month and houses 44 beds, four operating theatres, full diagnostic and rehab services and an outpatient service.

Mark Wilde, service development manager for Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust said: "The new Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Treatment Centre can be accessed by anyone living within Cheshire, provided their GP believes it is clinically appropriate.

"This hospital is a further enhancement of the existing NHS hospitals providing orthopaedic services locally and improves the range of choice for patients on where they can receive their hospital treatment."

The new centre is just one of the issues covered in the Improving Health Services in Central Cheshire Consultation.

Public meetings will be held on July 10 at Winsford Civic Hall, and at Northwich Memorial Hall on July 24, starting at 2pm.