A HEALTH clinic will close before a new service is built to replace it.

In a surprise U-turn, NHS South East Essex has brought forward the closure of Shoebury House, in Ness Road, to Christmas, rather than leave it open until a new purpose-built primary care centre is in place.

The superclinic proposed for Gunners Park is not scheduled to open until 2010.

The original consultation document on the shake-up of health provision in Shoebury, released last month, said the preferred option was to keep Shoebury House and Thorpedene Clinic open until the superclinic was built.

But a new version says Shoebury House will close this year because the health trust says it cannot justify spending the £600,000 necessary to improve disabled access, heating and electrics.

Marian Livermore, secretary of Shoebury Residents’ Association, said: “It would be a great loss if Shoebury House closes before any other services are provided. I can’t think how far people would have to travel for alternatives.”

She urged people to attend public consultation meetings at Shoebury House on Thursday, September 11, at 2pm, and at Shoebury High School on Monday, September 22, at 7pm.

Ward councillors Mike Assenheim (Ind) and Pat Rayner (Con) were concerned people may find it difficult to get to other surgeries.

Mr Assenheim said: “Thorpe-dene Clinic is very busy and I think if people are transferred there from Shoebury House they may have to wait longer for appointments and have difficulty parking.”

Margaret Hathaway, project director for NHS South East Essex, said: “There are no GP practices based at Shoebury House and therefore no registered patients. Patients come on an appointment basis for a limited number of services – podiatry, children’s services and speech and language therapy.

“These may be relocated out of the Shoebury area until the new Shoebury primary care centre is operational.

“There may be some inconvenience caused in the short term by this closure. However, we hope residents will see that a significant investment is proposed for Shoebury to provide new healthcare facilities, including hospital outpatients, which are far better suited for the demands of a modern-day NHS.”