PATIENTS in north east Essex will be treated for skin conditions in their community.

North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group has appointed a new company to offer dermatology services throughout Colchester and Tendring.

The emphasis will be on people being treated at homes or their GP surgeries rather than at hospital.

Concordia will be expected to deliver services from July.

Lisa Llewelyn, director of nursing and clinical quality at the North East Essex CCG said: "We undertook a very rigorous process to ensure we appointed the most appropriate provider from the bids we received.

"Concordia Specialist Care Services Ltd demonstrated robust quality, service delivery, patient experience with an emphasis of effective partnership working and innovation in their bid.

"They also displayed a sound knowledge of healthcare provision and the importance of working with patients as well as health professionals.

"We are now looking forward to working with them to ensure these services are up and running by the beginning of July.”

Patients used to receive dermatology care at Colchester General Hospital.

But in 2015 several specialist dermatology consultants left the trust, which runs the hospital.

Patients were also transferred top Ipswich Hospital for operations and the trust also has a long-standing agreement with Mid Essex Hospital Services to see Colchester patients with suspected skin cancer in 14 days.

The hospital still has its own dermatology nurse.

But most services are now offered out of the hospital and Concordia's contract is expected see a continuation of that.

The new contract between the CCG and Concordia will run for five years from July 1. It will be consultant led, with specialists from the company working with local doctors, commissioners and other care providers to run the services.