BILLERICAY residents must get involved in shaping the future of health services in their town or face losing out.

That is the message from MP John Baron ahead of a 12-week public consultation to begin next month.

A report compiled by Mr Baron, GPs, councillors, health officials and residents in the town has been submitted to South West Essex Primary Care Trust.

It includes calls for more dentists, longer GP opening hours and a proposal to keep open the St Andrew’s Centre, in Stock Road.

It also proposes a shake-up of blood testing and chiropody services.

Peter Bowditch, chairman of Billericay Town Council and Billericay Health Steering Group member, said: “The existing facility for taking blood is old.

“It’s difficult for patients to get appointments because there’s only a small window.

“Through the report we hope to get the primary care trust down to commit to improving health services in Billericay.”

Mr Baron, a member of the Billericay Health Steering Group, said he was pleased with the report.

He said: “For the NHS to truly serve its community it has got to be local and under these proposals, there are going to be more services available in Billericay. That has got to be good news.”

However, he also warned the report’s recommendations would hold no weight unless residents showed their support during the next consultation process.

He said: “The message is, use it or lose it. If people come back and say ‘yes, these are good ideas’, then the NHS will implement them.”

The report is the result of information gathered by the steering group through public and private meetings.

The report sets out eight key areas which need to be improved, alongside possible ways of doing this.

Margaret Stockham, steering group chairman, said information on how residents could take part in the upcoming consultation period would be published soon.