Installation of ANPR system at Victoria Infirmary to enhance parking experience

The Victoria Infirmary in Northwich will soon implement an Automatic Number Plate Recognition system as part of its ongoing efforts to improve parking facilities on-site.

The ANPR system 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 will be 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.

The Trust is also developing a solution to recognise DDA badge holders and ambulances to speed up access via the use of CCTV pin hole cameras, which will be installed as part of the scheme.  

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.

In conjunction with the ANPR installation, upgrades will be made to the car park, including repainting of parking lines and enhancements for pedestrian access, such as drop kerbs and wider pathways.

Installation work is scheduled to commence on Monday, March 24, 2025, with anticipated completion by the end of April 2025.

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

“We understand the parking challenges at Victoria Infirmary and we remain dedicated to improving the situation for both the public and our staff.

“This 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.

“We are committed to exploring sustainable, long-term solutions to enhance the parking situation at VIN. While some disruption is expected during the work, we will strive to minimise it by scheduling tasks during evenings and weekends.”

The new Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre is set to open in spring 2025 and 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.