Health services in north Essex have been given an extra £34.1 million next year.

The Government has announced that North Essex Health Authority will have £544,949 million to fund its services in Colchester, Chelmsford, Clacton, Harwich, Maldon and Braintree for the financial year from April.

It is an increase of 6.7 per cent, slightly less than the 6.8 per cent average increase for other health authorities across the nation.

In real cash terms, taking into account inflation, the increase is four per cent, or £20.8 million.

The Government said the money would help modernise health services.

Wendy Smith, head of communications at the health authority, said: "It is very good to hear that extra funding is coming to the region. It is too early to see what the impact is for north Essex. We now need to do the detailed work to assess the north Essex position."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.