By Sharon AsplinA HEALTH trust is expected to reapply for planning permission to develop a new state-of-the-art primary care centre.The proposed primary care centre in Kennedy Way, Great Clacton, will enable more services to be provided for patients, including neurology, dermatology and diabetes for which they currently have to travel to Colchester.

By Sharon Asplin

A HEALTH trust is expected to reapply for planning permission to develop a new state-of-the-art primary care centre.

The proposed primary care centre in Kennedy Way, Great Clacton, will enable more services to be provided for patients, including neurology, dermatology and diabetes for which they currently have to travel to Colchester.

A planning application for the centre by Tendring Primary Care Trust was rejected earlier this year after Tendring District Council's planning committee voiced concerns over transport issues.

Now the primary care trust board will meet on Thursday to discuss reapplying for planning permission.

Trust chief executive, Paul Unsworth, said: “We were naturally disappointed the earlier planning application was rejected, despite recommendation of approval by planning officers, but took on board the concerns expressed.

“We have spent the past few months undertaking a robust study of transport needs and have had plentiful and detailed discussions with local transport groups.

“We are confident we now have a plan which will ensure access to the new health centre is not perceived as a hurdle to this very exciting project.”

The number of proposals have been put forward to tackle problems in patients getting to the centre, including:

n a free shuttle bus, running from Great Clacton to Holland-on-Sea, via Kennedy Way

n a door-to-door assisted transport service by ambulance where required

n a door-to-door service operated by Tendring Community Transport through its Dial-a-Ride scheme

n free parking at the new centre.

Mr Unsworth added: “We have also looked carefully at the services to be provided from the two satellite centres in Great Clacton and Holland-on-Sea and, again, we are confident people will be happy that the services from these satellites will provide valuable complementary additions to the new centre.”

It is hoped one of the satellite clinics will be at Grove Lodge Surgery in Holland-on-Sea, with an assessment of either Epping Close or North Road surgeries in Great Clacton still to be completed.

It is anticipated, subject to demand, they will provide a five-day-a-week service offering nurse-led clinics including blood testing, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, leg ulcers and flu, with nurse practitioner and GP services according to need.

sharon.asplin@eadt.co.uk