Patients and visitors to Basildon Hospital will soon find their trip eased with the addition of 500 car parking spaces.

The news will be welcomed by anyone using the hospital as parking has become an issue at the ever-expanding site in Nethermayne, Basildon.

The extra car parking areas will be added in phases with the first spaces being created around the new ward block and day surgery unit.

Basildon Council is being asked for permission to create the extra spaces for the busy hospital which is taking a number of services over from Orsett Hospital, meaning extra patients will flow through the site.

A spokeswoman for Basildon Hospital said: "The trust wishes to add additional car parking spaces at Basildon Hospital to relieve the present congestion.

"An application for 500 additional spaces has been lodged with the council. It is our intention to build the spaces on a phased basis over a period of time."

The new ward block, with an extra 108 beds and four additional wards, will see inpatient facilities from Orsett Hospital moved to Basildon in an effort to boost the service by concentrating medical expertise and hi-tech equipment in one location when it opens at Christmas.

By Kelly Clark

Reporter's e-mail: kellyc@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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