A scheme that will provide large health care centres in four Southend areas is at the heart of a new campaign.

Shoebury councillor James Moyies launched the Love Southend NHS scheme during a visit by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday.

The scheme will see health centres created for patients living in the Leigh, Westcliff, Southend and Shoebury areas.

A new health centre is set to be built in Gunners Park, Shoebury and another created at the St Luke’s surgery in Southend. The site of the remaining two health “localities” is yet to be revealed but the scheme will be integral to the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) plans to provide more health care in the community and ease the pressure on overburdened hospitals.

Mr Moyies said: “The last of our four localities in Southend was launched last week and the joint working between all health services is progressing well. I have helped to arrange a meeting of all health leaders across South East Essex to discuss the establishing of a South East Essex Integrated Health Alliance and discussed with Mr Hunt the ideas I have which should ensure the transformation of care delivers better outcomes for our residents.”

The STP plans have proved controversial. They include creating specialist centres in Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospitals.

Basildon is likely to have a hyper acute stroke unit and a specialist emergency centre.

However, campaigners have raised concerns over the transfer of patients between specialist hospitals.

Mr Moyies added: “Momentum/Labour and the Independent Alliance Party politicians are scaremongering our residents by scoring cheap emotional political points.”

James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East added: “There has been a lot of negative noise over the past year criticising what the NHS is doing and I wanted to show the NHS and Social Care staff that we love what they do and support them.

“Valentine’s Day seemed a great day to launch this campaign.”