HEALTHCARE champions are demanding answers about the future of Northwich’s infirmary.

Leaders from Cheshire West and Chester Local Involvement Network (LINk) have written to health bosses to find out whether inpatient beds will ever make a return to the Victoria Infirmary Northwich (VIN).

Nora Dolphin, chairman of Cheshire West and Chester LINk, said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned at the gradual erosion of all the services at VIN.

“We know there’s a big case for more beds in Northwich with plans for the urban village at Winnington and the development in Wincham.

“The transport issue of going to Leighton [Hospital] is always difficult and the infirmary has been loved and needed by the Northwich community for more than 100 years.

“It’s about time that we, as Cheshire West and Chester LINk, use our teeth and expressed publicly our concerns about the future of Northwich’s infirmary.”

VIN’s 103-year-old inpatient wards were closed in May after they failed an electrical test and it was revealed they needed a £3million rewire to make them safe.

Staff and patients now have a dedicated ward, Ward 19, at Leighton Hospital.

But Northwich patients were promised a new and improved inpatient unit at VIN by Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) four years ago, after a campaign to stop the unit closing.

This was supposed to be built as part of a health super centre, but plans have been put on hold until at least the autumn because the PCT does not have the cash for the project.

Mrs Dolphin, along with Neil Garbett, LINk’s team leader, have written to Mike Pyrah, chief executive of the PCT, to ask if the current arrangements are likely to be permanent.

Mrs Dolphin said: “Its about time they came up with some answers.

“The new Government has talked about giving power to the people – what about the PCT talking to the community?

“The nursing was always excellent at VIN and ok, it wasn’t a modern, up-to-date hospital, but why not talk to the community and say ‘we’ll provide nurses and equipment’ and see what the community would be prepared to do to help.

“We might get some brilliant ideas.”

l Representatives from the PCT are expected to talk to Northwich Town Council and members of the public about VIN at the council meeting on September 6.