An industry-leading healthcare products and services company has opened a new service and training centre for the North West.

It is the first of a national roll out of new developments planned by Birkenshaw-based Park House Healthcare for 2011.

As part of its continued expansion Park House, which is one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of specialist pressure relieving and pressure reducing equipment is also looking to double exports to 20 per cent of turnover in the next three years.

The new centre was officially opened by Ray Hodgkin-son, director general of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), at an event attended by more than 30 NHS managers.

It is designed to provide state of the art professional services as part of a strategic geographical network of service centres throughout the UK.

It includes decontamination facilities, service and maintenance areas and a rental fleet along with an advanced training site to update staff and clients on the latest developments in a fast-moving sector.

Stephen Owens, Park House Healthcare founder and managing director, said: “The North West Service Centre is another investment in the extensive support network we provide to our clients.

“Wigan is the first of five service centre openings we have planned for 2011 and highlights how we are responding to industry demands.”

Mr Hodgkinson said: “Park House Healthcare has worked with the BHTA for a number of years.

“In the current challenging times the company has continued to back their judgement and invest in changes that will benefit the changing future of the NHS.

“Park House Healthcare knows exactly what the market needs from a service centre.”

Park House Healthcare, founded by Mr Owens in the garage of his then home at Park House farm, East Bierley, Bradford, now employs 100 people at its £3 million, 60,000 sq ft base.