A trail-blazing super care centre that would move three doctors' practices and a clinic to one site in Leigh is a backwards step, health bosses were told.
Residents voiced their concerns over plans for the primary care centre in Leigh, which would be the first of five in Southend, at a packed meeting at the Grand Hotel in the Broadway, Leigh.
Southend Primary Care Trust want to move practices in Pall Mall, Cranleigh Drive, and Elm Road, as well as a clinic in Burnham Road, to a purpose-built centre in London Road, Leigh, to be built on the Dragon Motors site.
The modern facility would solve current problems doctors face with ageing premises and lack of space.
It would also aim to offer extra services, such as an NHS dentist, a minor injury clinic, and a dispensing chemist.
But residents voiced concerns over the practicalities of patients using the centre, with parking and transport to and from the facility being key issues.
One member of the audience said plans for 38 parking spaces at the centre were "totally inadequate" and that lessons should be learnt from the chronic problems at Southend Hospital.
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