A NEW £2 million secure storage centre has opened to house the health records of Bolton residents.

The Royal Bolton Hospital has invested the cash to create a single storage point for about 300,000 files.

The documents had previously been split between two locations on the hospital site, forcing staff to walk an average of seven miles a day to replace and retrieve them.

Glenda Parkinson, project manager at the hospital, said: “I have worked here for 40 years and have wanted a purpose-built building for health records so this has been like a dream come true.

“I am so proud of the finished product and of all of the staff that have helped make the move a quick and organised process.”

The new records centre allows all files to be stored in one place, with one filing system, making the notes quicker and easier to locate.

They are also now held more securely, with confidentiality being of key importance.

The two-storey building, which has health records on the ground floor and offices above, was designed using suggestions from staff.

They also have 60 new trolleys to help move notes around the site.

The scheme has taken a year of planning and seven months of building, which started in October. It was completed ahead of schedule in May and files are now being moved to their new home.

An official opening for the building will take place later this year, when all the health records have been transferred.