Publish date: 22 May 2025
The Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre, part of the Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, has welcomed its first patients.
The centre boasts two advanced operating theatres, one dedicated to cataract surgery and the other functioning as a multi-specialty theatre accommodating orthopaedics, ENT, dermatology, general surgery, and pain management.
There is also an ophthalmic treatment room, recovery area and consulting rooms.
The centre will treat around 12,000 patients each year, including 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 the longest waits for treatment.
The surgical centre, which opened to patients on Wednesday 21 May 2025, will also become a cataract centre of excellence, and a regional hub for outstanding cataract care. This will mean fewer people waiting for cataract surgery, with referral to treatment in three weeks or less, as well as improved patient care.
Patients attending for cataract surgery will be treated by surgeons from both Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) and the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as part of the surgical hub collaboration. Patients will appear on a joint regional waiting list, which will be the first of its kind in Cheshire and Merseyside.
The historic Verdin Ward has also been refurbished to bring the building up to current standards and to preserve its historic importance. The Verdin Ward takes its name from local businessman and philanthropist, Robert Verdin, who in 1886, donated the house to the town for use as a hospital.
MCHFT received £23m of funding from NHS England, via NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, to create the state-of-the-art facility.
Russ Favager is MCHFT’s Board Senior Responsible Officer for Leighton New Hospital Programme and Estates Redevelopment. He said: “We are delighted to unveil this fantastic, state-of-the-art facility, which is a significant step forward in expanding our capacity and reducing our waiting lists.
“By creating a dedicated 'cold site' theatre space, we are also strengthening our operational resilience. This development is a key part of the Trust’s strategy and ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality services closer to where people live, bringing care into the heart of the community.
“We are also pleased to have preserved the Grade II listed Verdin Ward, recognising its historic significance and ensuring its legacy for future generations.”
Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, Medical Director at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “The opening of the Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre in Northwich is brilliant news for the region’s residents.
“By providing thousands of additional appointments, it will ensure even more of our residents have quicker access to the best possible care and vital procedures when and where they need them most.”
