Residents across Tendring are being given the chance to have their say on plans for major improvements to health services.

They have ten weeks to put their views across on the four main projects, which are aimed at upgrading facilities for patients.

The schemes are the first wave of initiatives to be carried out with money from the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust scheme.

A successful joint bid was made by Tendring and Colchester Primary Care Trusts and they picked up £40million for the next ten years.

The projects include:

A modern mixed use health centre at Dovercourt which will re-provide existing accommodation including GP beds, flexible community space and increased space for general practice

Existing GP practices in Great Clacton and Holland-on-Sea are to be brought together on one conveniently located site which will enable an expansion of the range of services provided in primary care. As well as having space for a number of GP practices, it is likely to include mental health services, district nursing and health visiting, podiatry and minor operations

A primary care centre for Colchester which will bring together community services such as dentistry and children's services. It will also allow the development of a child assessment centre, GP diagnostic and child and family consultation services, an access centre at the Essex County Hospital site with GP and nursing out-of-hours service

Meetings will be held at the Sixth Form Octagon Centre at Harwich School on February 26 from noon to 5pm, Holland Public Hall, Holland-on-Sea, on March 10 from 9am to 5pm, and at St John's Church Hall, Great Clacton, on March 3 from 9am to 6.30pm.

Written views can be sent to Dr Sue O'Connell at Colchester PCT, Health Offices, Turner Road, Colchester

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette