THE range of services that will be provided at the new £17 million Altrincham NHS Hospital has been announced.

The new hospital is currently under construction on Railway Street in the town and is due to open in spring 2015. The new purpose-built community facility aims to provide a high quality, modern and user-friendly environment for patients and staff and a wide range of general and specialist outpatient and diagnostic services

The new four-storey development will replace the current Altrincham Hospital on Market Street which dates back to the Victorian era. All services currently available at the existing facility will transfer to the new site. The full range of services that will be provided in the new community hospital is as follows:

Audiology (hearing complaints)

Dermatology (skin complaints)

Diabetes

Dietetics

Elderly Medicine

ENT (ear, nose and throat) – expanded service

Gynaecology (female reproductive health)

Minor injuries unit (nurse-led)

Ophthalmology (eye conditions) – expanded service

Orthopaedics

Pain management

Phlebotomy (blood tests)

Physiotherapy

Podiatry (foot care)

Radiology – X-ray and ultrasound

Renal dialysis – new service

Respiratory (chest conditions)

Rheumatology (musculoskeletal conditions)

Vascular (conditions relating to the blood vessels).

Renal dialysis is a major new development for Altrincham and sees the service transfer from Wythenshawe Hospital where it is currently provided.

Two new X-ray machines costing £350,000 will be installed in the new hospital development in adjacent rooms. Both will be wall mounted and have mobile plates which enable the X-ray machines to come to the patient, offering both convenience and flexibility.

This range of services will be provided by clinical experts from Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the renowned local major teaching and research hospital Trust.

Beth Weston, Director of Trafford Hospitals, said: “We are delighted that our plans to create a new state-of-the-art community hospital for Altrincham are coming to fruition. This development will be a major boost for local people and will provide them with modern, high quality healthcare facilities and an expanded range of clinical services.”