Our Services

Offering primary care services to all Runcorn residents

We currently run a number of ongoing at-scale primary care services for patients registered in Runcorn.

The list of services we provide changes regularly and we are frequently asked to support our colleagues in general practice by offering further additional at-scale short-term services. By “at-scale” we mean that, unlike your GP practice who only offer services to the patients who register with them, we offer services to ALL Runcorn residents.

This provides real support to individual GP practices at times when they are fully booked offering day-to-day services to their registered patients. Some patients need additional access to primary care out of normal surgery opening hours, for example. Or a short-term ‘push’ or catch-up on particular health issues (e.g. cytology, blood checks etc) is needed across all of Runcorn. Or a longer-term access to specific clinics to avoid hospital appointments (e.g. minor skin issues).

We will regularly update this page to keep you posted on developments.

Our current services for our locally registered patients are listed below. To find out more about them, please contact us

Cervical Screening (Also known as Smear Test)

Our service is collaborating with practices and other services across Halton to raise awareness about the importance of smear tests and encourage more women to attend their screenings. By increasing uptake, we aim to support early detection and improve health outcomes in our community.

A cervical screening, also known as a smear test, is a quick and simple procedure to check the health of the cervix (the opening to the womb). It helps detect abnormal cells that could potentially develop into cervical cancer if left untreated. Regular smear tests are a vital part of preventive healthcare for women.

To book an appointment with the GP Health Connect service please contact your registered practice during their opening hours or call us on 01928 593078 Mon-Fri 18:30-20:30 and Sat 09:00 – 17:00.

The Living Well bus will also be providing a drop in service in the area supporting access to screenings (details below):

Runcorn GP Extra Service

Our Runcorn GP Extra service provides access to routine GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse and phlebotomy appointments Mon-Fri 18:30-20:30 and Sat 09:00 – 17:00.

Patients registered at a GP practice in Runcorn can access these pre-bookable appointments via your normal GP practice during surgery opening hours.

We do sometimes have routine appointments still available at weekends and these can be accessed during opening hours on the day by calling us on 01928 593078 (but please note this phone is only available at weekends and Bank Holidays) – or, if appropriate, via the 111 service.

Please note that these appointments are currently all held at Heath Road Medical Centre in Runcorn.

Download GPHC GP Extra Flyer (PDF 200Kb)

Dermatology Service (Minor Lesions Clinics)

Our Runcorn Dermatology service is for non-urgent issues only. The service is provided by local GPs with an interest and relevant qualifications in dermatology.

We concentrate on skin lesions of diagnostic uncertainty where the referring surgery GP wants advice or a more expert opinion. Biopsies will be taken where required and any relevant follow-up activity carried out, in order to relieve demand on your surgery and provide continuity of care for patients.

Access to the service is through your normal GP. If you have a skin lesion that is worrying you, please contact your GP in the first instance who may then refer you into this local service.

Download Halton GP Derm Service – PIL (PDF 235Kb)

Asylum Seeker Home Visiting Service

Working collaboratively with other local agencies, we provide a medical service to asylum seekers temporarily housed at The Daresbury Hotel.

With a very fluid population of over 350 people based there at any one time, this service provides a practical method of providing access to health and social care services for this group of people.

We run a number of clinics each week, staffed by both GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners alongside our colleagues in Wellbeing Enterprises who can signpost to mental health, social and community services.

The ICB and the 6 Runcorn practices believe this service is an efficient way of providing access to primary care services for these patients. Many have quite complex physical and mental health needs and most require a translation service. Providing an at-scale unified service at Daresbury, using  specialised clinical staff rather than trying to accommodate them into 10-minute slots spread across each of the six Runcorn surgeries ensures virtually no impact on current services from your local GP.

Please note that these appointments are only available to asylum seekers currently living onsite at the Daresbury Hotel.

Pharmacy Service

We now provide a pharmacist service to the Runcorn GP practices, using Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians employed by GP Health Connect Ltd. This service includes structured medication reviews and medicines optimisation and is aimed at improving medicines use in order to improve patient outcomes and ensure better value for money for the NHS.

Paramedic Service

The paramedic service is another service provided to Runcorn GP practices and uses paramedics employed by GP Health Connect Ltd. Again, this is a flexible service which individual GP surgeries may use differently but the service will generally include paramedics supporting the GPs with the NHS Long Term Plan and, in particular, the Frailty and Ageing Well agendas.