The first plans for Braintree's long-awaited community hospital are expected to be unveiled today (Friday).

Final talks on the launch of the £4million project, to be developed at the existing William Julien Courtauld Hospital site in London Road, have been going on all week.

Representatives from the Witham, Braintree and Halstead Primary Health Care Group and the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust are to announce the completion of a strategic outline case for the project which will provide all services now delivered at the WJC and St Michael's hospitals.

Jane Griffiths, chief executive of the primary care group, said: "If it gets the go-ahead it means that Braintree will be given the opportunity to invest in new health services and make a significant difference, especially for older people.

"Probably the most exciting development will be new teams of community specialists, caring for older people at home where they would rather be, given the choice.

"We want to be able to offer more specialised nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social care, without people having to go into hospital"

Once the plan is agreed at local level it will go first to the North Essex Area Health Authority and then to the Eastern Region Health Authority to be ratified.

Plans for the new hospital are expected to involve modernising WJC with funds released by the sale of the St Michael's site.

The news was welcomed by John Kotz, chairman of patient watchdog group, the Community Health Council and lead member for health at Braintree Council.

"This is a very exciting development. WJC has survived many threats and it is clearly the preferred option for a community hospital. If it hadn't been for the efforts of the Community Health Council and the strength of local opinion, WJC would have been closed by now.

"At the moment it looks as if all the services we have now on both sites will remain.

"A lot of people will be delighted at this news, because WJC has a place in the heart of the community."

A regional decision on the choice of WJC for a community hospital is expected by the end of the summer.

The plan will then go out to public consultation. The St Michael's site is expected to be given up for housing.

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