A NEW proposal for a revised health authority boundary has been put forward by St Helens Council.

It follows a decision by its Policy and Resources Committee to reject the options that were being put forward for a larger health area as part of a general review.

It was felt that none of the options proposed in a discussion document were satisfactory.

In a letter to St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority the council says: "The council would propose that a further alternative option be considered - that of the merger of St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority with those of Halton and Warrington. "The council was opposed to any option which splits St Helens and Knowsley or which involved a merger with Liverpool.

"The council would not, however, be opposed to Wigan being included in the St Helens and Knowsley, Warrington and Halton option."

The letter - sent on behalf of Policy Committee chairman and council leader, Marie Rimmer - says the council backs the new option because the boundary forms part of a natural community (The mid-Mersey belt) and all boroughs involved in the revised option access acute services at either Warrington or Whiston Hospital Trusts.

"In terms of commissioning services, the proposed boundary is based around existing patient flows and hospital trusts," say the council.

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