A PROPOSED merger between two mental health trusts is set to be discussed at two public meetings later this week.

Residents are invited to the sessions on Friday to find out more about the possible joining of the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP), which provides mental health care across north Essex and Suffolk, and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT).

Governors from the NEP will be present at the meetings and chairman Chris Paveley will speak about the merger plans and answer questions about possible changes for patients and residents.

The first meeting will be held at Pier Avenue Baptist Church in Clacton between 3pm and 5pm, while the second meeting will be held in Colchester Town Hall on High Street in the grand jury and west committee rooms between 6.30pm and 9pm.

A spokesman for the NEP said: “The main reasons for the proposed merger are both Trusts believes together they are stronger and can deliver the highest standards of care for people in Essex, better meet workforce challenges, be more clinically sustainable into the future and be better able to meet the increasing demand for services.”

At the moment SEPT provides physical healthcare in west Essex, south Essex and Bedfordshire.

Anyone who wants to attend the meeting is asked to emailnepuft.enquiries@nhs.net.

Further meetings are being planned to discuss the merger in the coming weeks and details will be released at nepnhs.uk

If approved, the merger will happen on April 1.