PLANS for two long-awaited Health centres could be stopped in their tracks by Government proposals to revamp the NHS.

Wivenhoe patients have been waiting for more than ten years for a new GP clinic.

Now town councillors are worried an NHS shake-up could delay it further. A second clinic on Mersea may also be at risk.

The Government wants to abolish the primary care trusts, which currently run GP surgeries and NHS dentistry, making GPs directly responsible for running their practices as standalone businesses.

Robert Needham, Wivenhoe deputy mayor, said: “We are really not sure where this leaves the primary care health centre and the ability of GPs to set up, manage and construct a new health centre.

“We don’t have a lot of confidence at the moment about it.”

The council plans to ask North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin what is likely to happen to cash set aside by the trust for the new centre.

NHS North East Essex is still drawing up plans to build a medical centre next to the fire station in Colchester Road to house local GPs, plus three nurses, admin staff and a pharmacy.

The present plans involve a partnership between the primary care trust and a company called Realise Health.

Patients on Mersea are waiting for a similar clinic.

Matt Bushell, deputy chief executive of NHS North East Essex, said: “In the current climate, particularly in light of the Government White Paper, all NHS organisations are looking at how money can be best spent.

“We remain totally committed to providing more community-based services but final decisions about the Wivenhoe and Mersea projects have not yet been made. The two practices are currently reviewing their options.

“What we can assure local people is when money is spent, it will be spent wisely and on projects and services which represent best value and support greatest need.”