A CENTRE manager is keen to see a multi-purpose surgery open in a shopping area.

Witham MP Priti Patel contacted NHS chiefs and Health Secretary of Sate Jeremy Hunt to approve funds for a super surgery in the town.

The Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group has submitted plans to NHS England, to secure funds.

Lorne Campbell, centre manager at the Newlands Shopping Centre, said it would be a good location.

He said: “I’m very keen for it to be located in that area.

“It could be at the back of the shopping centre, and we would lobby for free parking for patients.

“From my perspective we have got the parking and a landlord that is very keen to work with the surgeries.

“It would be something to bring into the town and we would go from having a shopping centre that is OK at one end, to a building that would draw people into the retail area.”

It is suggested the surgery would cover three floors.

Ms Patel said: “I have been working closely with the CCG to develop a co- herent business case based on patient needs.

“I outlined to Jeremy Hunt the difficulties my constituents experience on a regular basis trying to get an appointment with their GP and the pressures this creates for local A&E departments.

“With my strong representation, I expect Mr Hunt to recognise the desperate need for Witham to have a fully integrated and multipurpose surgery.”

A spokesman for the CCG said approval of the funding will enable further development of a wider business case.

They said: “A formal options appraisal has just been completed on the sites under consideration for the Witham health hub.

“The next step will be for the CCG to approve the option that the appraisal showed most closely meets the needs of people in the town.

“We are currently informing all those affected by the outcome of the process and cannot comment further until after we have done that.”