NHS Essex is planning to improve local urgent care for patients in Thurrock and the surrounding area.
These plans would see the existing Minor Injuries Unit – run by North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) at Orsett Hospital – transfer to more modern facilities at Thurrock Community Hospital, where it will be located alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre to help more people get faster diagnosis and treatment, supported by £1m of additional external funding.
The plans are still being finalised and will be subject to further engagement and further decision-making alongside partners in the coming months.
These plans would be a positive step for people in Thurrock, creating the opportunity to provide even more urgent care locally in the future.
Samantha Goldberg, Executive Director of Commissioning Acute and Adult Mental Health Services
People across Essex have told us that faster diagnosis and treatment should be a top priority. Moving the service to Thurrock Community Hospital, alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre, would help bring more care, tests and treatment together in one place.
As part of our five-year plan for the NHS in Essex, we also want to build on this by developing a future Urgent Treatment Centre, able to care for more people with a wider range of urgent health needs and helping reduce avoidable pressure on local emergency departments.
NHS Essex is working with partners to ensure adequate, parking, access and signage. Alongside this, the NHS will continue to work closely with Healthwatch Thurrock and local communities to ensure patients’ experiences and needs inform the future development of urgent care services.