Victoria Infirmary one-day closure on Saturday 30th November

The Victoria Infirmary, in Northwich, will be closed on Saturday 30th November from 6am to 10pm for essential electrical works.

Work is being undertaken to increase the electrical supply to the site as part of the development of the VIN’s new surgical centre, which is on track to open in spring 2025.

The VIN will re-open as per normal operating times on Sunday 1st December 2024.

While many services do not operate on Saturdays, there will be some changes to accommodate the closure.

Here's an outline of the changes to the services impacted by the closure:

• GP out of hours service – relocated to Leighton Hospital
• Minor injuries - relocated to Leighton Hospital
• Phlebotomy – Appointments made for this day will be rearranged, appointments will be available on 1 December 2024
• Radiology/ Medical imaging - Appointments made for this day will be rearranged. Clinics will be running on 1 December 2024
• CCICP – the District Nurses and Therapy teams will be working remotely. The Ambulatory Wound Clinic Team will be running their clinic from an alternative site to manage patients who require daily review. 

Gemma Morgan-Lees, general manager of the VIN, said:

“The decision to close the VIN for the day was not taken lightly. However, the scale of the work simply means it would not be safe for staff, patients, or visitors to be on-site during the day.

“We appreciate there may be disruption to some services, but this is an essential part of the surgical centre’s development and it cannot be undertaken in any other way.

“The establishment of the surgical centre is a key priority for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, reflecting our dedication to enhancing healthcare services in our local communities.

“Not only will the centre improve access to high-quality surgical care but also reinforces our commitment to providing essential services within a convenient proximity to the patients we serve.

“I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank people for their understanding, support and patience while this work take place.”

Once open, the Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre will treat around 12,000 patients each year.

The centre will provide state-of-the-art clinical areas to support patient care, securing local services for the community for the future. These include two theatres covering ophthalmology, orthopaedics, pain, ear nose and throat (ENT), dermatology, and general surgery. There will also be a treatment room, recovery area and consulting rooms.

The Trust aims to treat a large number of ‘high volume low complexity’ patients from across the region who require less complex operations and procedures. This will help reduce waiting times for patients, with an immediate focus on those who have been waiting 52-weeks for treatment.