ANPR system set to go live at Victoria Infirmary in Northwich

The new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system at the Victoria Infirmary in Northwich will go live on Tuesday 27th May 2025.

The system has been installed as part of ongoing efforts to improve parking facilities at the site, and will establish designated parking areas for staff and patients/visitors, allocating 61 spaces for staff and 69 for the public. 

Overall, this enhancement will increase the number of parking spaces by five, bringing the total to 130. This initiative is only one component of a broader strategy, and additional solutions are still being sought to expand car parking numbers effectively. 

The ANPR system has been installed at two traffic islands located at the Winnington Lane entrance and in front of the staff parking area. Payment can be made at two machines using cash or card, or directly at the exit barrier. 

However, parking will remain free for disabled patients. These patients will receive a free exit ticket once they present a valid blue badge at the reception desk in the new Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre, which is sign posted. 

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which oversees operations at the VIN, will manage the ANPR system, ensuring no third-party involvement. A direct intercom connection will be established between barrier control and the Trust’s transport team to address any potential issues. 

As part of the broader improvement efforts for the car park, new line markings will be painted this weekend (Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 May 2025). Consequently, a significant portion of the car park will be cordoned off. Although there is a reduction in services operating at the VIN over the weekend compared to weekdays, some patients may still be affected. 

Last month, the Trust and Northwich Town Council announced a medium-term solution to improve parking at the VIN has been agreed in principle. As part of the solution, the two organisations are planning to develop an area of Verdin Park to provide 50 dedicated staff parking spaces for hospital use from Monday to Friday.  

Gemma Morgan-Lees, General Manager at Victoria Infirmary, said:

“We understand the parking challenges at Victoria Infirmary, and we remain dedicated to improving the situation for both the public and our staff, as demonstrated by our recent agreement with Northwich Town Council. 

“The parking upgrade is crucial for maintaining essential services in our community and supports future developments, including the opening of our new surgical centre. It will also help mitigate unauthorised parking. 

“Additionally, with the work on our new surgical centre close to completion, additional parking spaces will be made available once the main contractor removes its cabins and equipment from the site.”  

Karen Simpson is the Service Manager for the new Cheshire & Merseyside Surgical Centre at the VIN. She said:

“We are very close to opening, so the upgrade to the carpark is fantastic news. 

“We’re very excited about the new surgical centre and the impact it will have on patients. It will feature advanced clinical areas to support patient care, including two operating theatres – one for cataract surgery and another serving multiple specialties such as orthopaedics, ENT, dermatology, general surgery, and pain management. Additional facilities will include an ophthalmic treatment room, a recovery area, and consulting rooms. 

“This surgical centre aims to become a centre of excellence for cataract care, establishing itself as a regional hub to reduce waiting times for eye surgeries and improve patient outcomes. 

“Patients undergoing cataract surgery will be treated by surgeons from both the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. A joint regional waiting list will be implemented, making it the first of its kind in Cheshire and Merseyside, ensuring equitable access to high-quality, efficient care. This unique approach will facilitate a fast-track cataract service, reducing the referral-to-treatment time to less than three weeks.

"Patients can now ask their optician about having their cataract operation at the surgical centre."