Health services in Thurrock will be given a major boost thanks to an injection of cash, says a health chief.
The Essex Health Authority is to get around £400million extra over the next three years towards achieving tough Government targets - with Basildon getting £36million.
Now Mike Cox, director of corporate development at the Thurrock Primary Care NHS Trust, has welcomed the news and believes the money earmarked for his area will also help improve services.
Mr Cox said details of how much would be coming to the borough and exactly where it would be targeted have still to be worked out.
"We've not received exact figures, but it is a substantial improvement in investment over the next three years," said Mr Cox.
"We will take our time, looking at what's increased, what's not and what strings might be attached. There are a number of significant challenges here and we have our local priorities.
"We will be talking with our partner agencies - the acute trust and social services for example - to agree a way forward and to make sure we focus on the areas that will deliver the most effective results."
David Stout, director of performance and finance at the Essex authority, welcomed the extra money and said he believed the cash would mean that "by December 2004 no-one should spend more than four hours from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge in a hospital accident and emergency department".
Published Tuesday, December 17, 2002
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