Amidst recent critical media coverage that it has received – Runcorn Shopping City is delighted to proudly announce the official opening of its new NHS Health Hub, one of the first of its kind in the UK, as part of its ongoing plans to widen the centre’s offerings to the local community.

 

Halton Health Hub was created in partnership with Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WHH) and will make it easier and more accessible for patients to attend appointments. The hub offers three clinical services: dietetics, orthoptics and audiology, as well as flu and Covid jabs, blood tests and out of hour extended GP access.

 

Recently the centre also saw a new Citizen’s Advice Bureau open, enabling people to access help with issues ranging from benefits and debt, to support with access to fuel or food vouchers, job searches and everything that has been so highly affected post-pandemic and due to the current cost-of-living crisis.

 

Dave Pearman, Shopping Centre Manager at Runcorn Shopping City, said:

 

“Following the Covid-19 pandemic so much in the world has changed, and this obviously includes the retail landscape. People shop in different ways, with a heavy shift to online and the need for community services has heightened.

 

“At Runcorn Shopping City we are on a path to repositioning our offerings tailored to the needs of the local community. Easier access to medical appointments, and in-person help to speak with an expert around citizen’s advice issues are services that are much needed and have been so positively received by Runcorn’s residents.

 

“Further, the importance of engaging with others, not isolating ourselves and socialising is a large part of what we are building here. We realise shopping centres are no longer just places to shop – they allow us to catch up with friends and family, meet colleagues for work meetings over a coffee, keep fit and so much more.

 

“We fully acknowledge Runcorn Shopping City may not be the same as it was previously, as has been recently highlighted in the news – but it shouldn’t be – because we are adapting, evolving and focussed on serving the needs of the local community.”

 

The change in spending habits has been significant since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, with people spending drastically more online than they did before.* Although online shopping was naturally a growing behaviour over the years, the pandemic has accelerated the trend, and we’re still spending substantially more online after it.** The cost of living crisis has also caused people to reduce their expenditure and how much they buy.***

 

That is why despite recent criticisms of the centre, Runcorn Shopping City is confident that those with busy lives juggling all the challenges and stress that life brings will massively benefit from having ever-growing access to a variety of services that fulfil their needs, locally, and under one roof.

43-year-old local Jane Catt says: “I have been visiting the centre all of my life and remember coming here in my pram! I’m visually impaired and feel safe coming to the centre because it is clean and secure. I’m able to meet my friends in the library and I use Facebook often to find out the latest about what is going on.” 

Regular visitor and resident Margaret Walsh aged added: “I’ve been coming to this shopping centre ever since it opened, and still visit two to three times a week. I visit the community shop as well as the other retail stores with ease, despite my mobility issues I feel Runcorn Shopping City meets my needs very well.”

A huge variety of additional customer feedback commented on the centre’s ‘friendly and helpful staff’, ‘great essential services’, ‘easy access by public transport’ and ‘fun annual events’ to name just a few.****

Dave added:

“The Christmas just gone was the first normal one since 2019 and we were thrilled to see a real hunger from people to immerse themselves in festive experiences, making memories again and with all the activities on offer free of charge. We’re excited to keep on growing and refreshing how we cater to the real-life needs of Runcorn’s residents in a way that goes one step further than ‘just’ a shopping centre.”

Runcorn Shopping City is dedicated to continuing to focus on such dedicated events throughout the year, giving people even more reasons to come and enjoy the shopping centre.