Appleton Surgery have agreed to promote a new advertising board on the perimeter of the first team pitch which will showcase their brand-new medical centre currently under construction.

Appleton Surgery are to relocate from their existing premises which is to be re-named ‘Fir Park Medical Centre’ and is expected to open in June 2021.

Press Officer Stephen Clark caught up with senior partner Ian Schofield at Heath Road who explained the background to the new advertising deal.

“We felt that this was an opportunity to help the Club at difficult time with some financial support via advertising our new medical centre to be opened very close to the Wids on Upton Rocks adjacent to the Observatory pub.

There is a long link between Appleton Village Surgery and the Wids.

Previous senior partner Dr Graham McGregor – who was also Club President - and myself, regularly attended to player injuries both off and on the pitch with frequent post-match Monday evening appointments offered in the past for the walking wounded.

The new premises will offer state of the art modern facility with excellent access and parking.

The clinical team will be expanded to include pharmacists, paediatric nurse specialists, four nurses, 11 doctors and plans for paramedics and physician associates in the future.

The four nurses will have over 120 years’ experience working for the NHS whilst the four senior GP’s go one better serving the for over 130 years the vast majority of which has been exclusively supporting the town of Widnes.

The practice fully engages with future models of care including; on line appointments, video consultations, full telephone triage service and same day appointments for those with urgent problems. There will also be an enhanced operating suite where more minor procedures will be performed locally for the patients rather than a trip to hospital.

The Practice is approved by Health Education England as a training practice for GP's of the future and will look to expand this role in the larger premises”.

In response, Wids Club President Martin Griffiths took the opportunity to thank Dr Schofield for their very generous offer of support.

“The relationship between the Wids and Appleton Surgery goes back over many years and we are delighted to see their new Fir Park Medical Centre under construction.

He continued “Financial support is vital to a Community Rugby Club such as ours and we are extremely grateful that the Practice have been able to support us in this way”.

Patients living in Widnes or Cronton can register now by contacting Appleton Village surgery on 0151 423 2990.