A new £11 million community hospital for Braintree has been given the go-ahead.

The new 30-bed hospital, on the site of the former St Michael's Hospital, in Rayne Road, will offer a wide range of services, including physiotherapy, blood testing, dentistry, minor injuries unit, therapy centre, minor procedures unit and maternity centre.

Also on the site will be two new ten-partner GP surgeries with dispensaries and a possible pharmacy.

Witham Braintree and Halstead's Primary Care Trust chief executive, Paul Zollinger-Read, welcomed the decision, made last night by councillors on Braintree's Area Committee.

He said: "To have a brand new hospital housing the latest facilities on one site rather than two will make a huge difference to the level of service we are able to offer.

"It will also be a major boost having two new GP surgeries. The extra space there will mean we can recruit more GPs, which will reduce list sizes and make access to a GP easier."

The councillors were unanimous in their agreement that new hospital facilities were long overdue in the town.

Detailed plans are likely to be submitted in the autumn, with phase one of the building work, the first GP surgery, due to begin towards the end of the year.

Published Thursday, May 1, 2003

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