Plans to move Minor Injuries Unit to Thurrock Community Hospital
Thurrock Community Hospital is set to house the relocated Minor Injuries Unit alongside a diagnostic centre
NHS Essex has plans to shake up urgent care by moving the Minor Injuries Unit from Orsett Hospital to Thurrock Community Hospital.
The unit, run by the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), will be relocated to fresh facilities, joining the Community Diagnostic Centre to speed up diagnoses and treatments.
The £1 million upgrade is still in the works, with NHS Essex finalising plans and getting input from local partners.
Samantha Goldberg, Executive Director of Commissioning Acute and Adult Mental Health Services, said, "These plans would be a positive step for people in Thurrock, creating the opportunity to provide even more urgent care locally in the future."
Goldberg also emphasised that faster diagnosis and treatment are a top priority, noting, "Moving the service to Thurrock Community Hospital, alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre, would help bring more care, tests and treatment together in one place."
Jen Craft MP shared her concerns about the potential closure of Orsett Hospital amidst talk of transferring the minor injuries unit, pointing out long-standing investment issues. "Like everyone in Thurrock, I’m extremely concerned by growing speculation about the closure of Orsett Hospital," Craft said.
She added, "But as everyone who uses that hospital knows, parking is a major issue. Working with residents, I will be closely interrogating plans to ensure there is more parking available at the site."
Craft promised to fight the closure until there is a suitable plan for relocating services, stating, "I will continue to fight any attempt to close Orsett until there is a plan for every service to be delivered elsewhere, in a way that works for patients."
NHS Essex is also coordinating with Healthwatch Thurrock and other local groups to ensure smooth integration, focusing on parking, accessibility, and signage to enhance patient experiences.
The goal is to consolidate care services, tests and treatments in one spot, making things more efficient for Thurrock and nearby areas.