SOUTHEND Council could rescue plans for a healthcare centre, it has been revealed

The Echo reported last week how Southend Clinical Commissioning Group’s plans for a new state-of-the-art health care centre in Shoebury and for another in the renovated St Luke’s centre in Southend have been shelved in the “short to medium term” over financial concerns

Southend Council, which is moving towards investing in commercial property to provide income to replace lost government funding, has suggested it provides the cash for a building for the Shoebury health centre, which it would then rent to the group.

The new centre in the Garrison would repace the current crumbling Shoeburyness Health Centre GP surgery in Campfield Road along with other surgeries in the area. It would also provide a range of services including blood taking.

The Clinical Commissioning Group is drawing up new plans under the Mid and Southend Essex Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP). The plans involve closer working between GPs, social workers and mental health workers to provide increased care in the community and keep more people out of struggling hospitals.

James Moyies, councillor for West Shoebury believes a health centre for the east of the town and at three other locations in the borough are key to making the plans a success.

Mr Moyies, who is also backing plans for greater integration between the council and health bodies, said: “Over the next three month the whole Southend health system, enabled by the Health and Well-being Board, will be devising plans for the four new Southend localities.

“Investment in local infrastructure will be part of that plan. I am very hopeful that with the proper commitment, system working and investment, we will have a game-changing community health service within Southend.”

Mr Moyies added: “I proposed to the clinical commissioning group the idea of the council building local health centres and leasing them back to the group, I subsequently gained the support of the leader John Lamb and Lesley Salter, councillor responsible for health and adult social care. Pursuing this idea has been the Conservative Group’s position for the past two years.

“Without this local investment I can’t see how the whole STP strategy can be delivered and I would be in the position of urging the council to reject the STP and to refer it back to the Secretary of State.

“I hope I will not be put in that position.”