Health chiefs have pledged to improve services at Clacton Hospital following the massive public support shown for the Gazette campaign for better facilities in the town.

And, speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Paul Unsworth, Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) chief executive, again confirmed a new hospital was "not out of the question".

But Mr Unsworth pointed out there were many aspects of health provision to consider before a large amount of taxpayers' money was spent on a new hospital.

Hopes of a new hospital in Clacton have been fuelled by the recent announcement Tendring PCT had been awarded one of the top ten funding increases in the country.

Mr Unsworth said the money would be used to improve services. But he added it was a matter of priorities concerning what the money will be spent on.

Mr Unsworth said: "We do not want to put it all in bricks and mortar, we also need to invest in the future."

Many community groups in Tendring district are backing the Gazette campaign and the number of people putting their name to the campaign is growing daily and has already topped the 1,000 mark.

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Published Monday, February 28, 2005

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