Health bosses have given the go-ahead for plans to develop a new community hospital in Braintree.

At a meeting last night (Thursday) between Witham, Braintree and Halstead Primary Care Group and the capital reference group of North Essex Health Authority, plans for the creation of a £5.5 million community hospital on the site of William Julien Courtauld Hospital were approved.

It is hoped services will be relocated from St Michael's Hospital to the London Road site, which will form part of a new hospital with more buildings being built to provide extra services.

Jane Griffiths, chief executive of the Witham, Braintree and Halstead Primary Care Group, said: "I am over the moon about it.

"Now that we have regional approval we will begin a three month consultation period talking to all the people working in the hospital to make sure the plans work. Then we will speak to the public who will be using the hospital.

"Eventually we hope to have a purpose built hospital on the site and more investment in community based services."

Public consultation will begin in September after which a full business case will be worked out, which will outline the proposals in greater detail.

Mrs Griffiths said they would be looking at various ways of developing the project including the possibility of getting private firms to finance the scheme.

The plan will be presented to the Health Authority early next year for final approval.

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