A HUGE new NHS supply chain regional distribution centre has opened in the shadow of the iconic Fiddler’s Ferry cooling towers.

Although the towers will soon be demolished, the new facility is now fully operational at Gorsey Point and will support 115 NHS trusts across the north west

It will provide a ‘more resilient and efficient’ supply of products and medical equipment to hospitals and other health care providers.

The 400,000-square-foot Gorsey Point facility – the size of six professional football pitches – is around three times larger than the facility it replaces, providing 60,000 pallet spaces – an eightfold increase.

NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations.

The regional distribution centre is located at Widnes 400, close to Cuerdley Cross, and will support 360 jobs, with the majority relocating from the smaller previous warehouse in nearby Runcorn.

It will serve 3,500 delivery locations and 18,400 individual requisition points that deliver the products and equipment needed to care for patients across the region.

The site is strategically located within 3.5 miles of junction seven of the M62 for Rainhill Stoops, five miles from junction 12 of the M56 for Runcorn, and close to the access point onto Mersey Gateway Bridge, linking Runcorn and Widnes.

Leaders say the site also benefits from excellent connectivity to the regional motorway network, as well as the 3M Rail Freight Terminal in Widnes, Garston Docks, Port of Liverpool and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Andrew New, CEO of NHS Supply Chain, said: “The facility is a major investment in the north west, and a significant part of our long-term national growth plans.

“It futureproofs our logistics operation in this part of the country and allows us to better meet the growing needs of NHS trusts in the region.

“The purpose-built facility gives us the capacity to store not only a greater level of stock overall, but also a broader range of products used by the NHS, boosting the resilience of our supply chain. This is something NHS trusts really wanted.

“Our reason for being is to help the NHS to put patients first, and in this case, we are delivering on that by working to make sure clinicians can rely on our supply chain to provide the products and equipment they need to do their job in a reliable, clinically assured and cost-efficient way.”