PATIENTS in Harwich are being asked to have their say over the future of the town’s minor injury unit.

The North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has put forward three options designed to relieve pressure on Colchester General Hospital’s accident and emergency department.

One option could see Fryatt Hospital’s minor injury unit – along with Clacton’s unit and the Walk in Centre in Colchester – closed.

The other options include retaining the units or establishing a new minor injuries service that would treat a range of minor injuries, from fractures, wounds requiring stitching to infected bites, at unspecified sites located in both Colchester and Tendring.

Sam Hepplewhite, chief officer at the North East Essex CCG, said: “The current urgent care system across Colchester and Tendring has evolved over time and is complex.

This often leads to greater confusion amongst patients not realising which service would best meet their needs.”

A public consultation meeting will take place at the Electric Palace, in King’s Quay Street, Harwich, on January 17 from 6pm to 7pm and on February 17 from 2pm to 3pm.

The consultation will run from January 4 to March 1, following which the CCG board will make a final decision in May.