OPPOSITION Warrington Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement of funding for an Urgent Treatment Centre in the town, while urging greater clarity on what it will mean for local residents.
Following the statement by Sarah Hall MP, Councillors emphasised the importance of ensuring that any new investment delivers clear and tangible improvements in access to care.
Cllr Helen Speed said, “We welcome any investment in Warrington’s health services. Residents have made it clear to us that access to urgent same day care is a real concern, so it is encouraging to see this issue being recognised. At the same time, people will quite reasonably want to understand what this announcement means in practice and how it will deliver better services for the people of Warrington, without drawing funding away from services that are already under pressure.
“We look forward to working with NHS partners to ensure that the detail is clear and that any plans meet the needs of our growing community.”
Cllr Ian Marks added, “This is a positive step, and we want to see it succeed. Good outcomes depend on careful planning, including workforce, funding, and how services fit together across the local health system. Urgent care is changing, and there may be a range of ways to deliver better access for residents. What matters most is that the final approach is clear, sustainable, and genuinely improves patient experience. The NHS tell us that a draft proposal has been approved by the Cheshire and Warrington Integrated Care Board and a final decision is expected by the Government and NHS England later this year.
“The NHS has a poor record at delivering some health facilities in the town on time and we are only too aware of their financial difficulties. We must hold them to this timetable.”
