A MULTI-million pound investment will see two vacant floors at Colchester’s walk-in centre transformed into specialist treatment space.

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust is investing millions of pounds in transferring some services from Essex County Hospital.

Colchester General Hospital, along with the neighbouring primary care centre, is accommodating the last of the services from the county hospital ahead of its closure next year.

In March, the hospital trust reached an agreement with Essex County Council to work together on the future redevelopment of the site, in Lexden Road.

The move was announced in 2014 and the hospital site went on the market months later.

A planning application for homes on the site is expected this year.

In July 2015, the trust invested £1.1 million to help transfer services from the site.

It was spent on extending the main outpatients department at the Turner Road hospital in preparation for the dermatology and plastic surgery specialties being moved.

At a meeting of the trust’s council of governors yesterday, it was revealed the Primary Care Centre, in Turner Road, will house ophthalmology services, including day theatres, consulting rooms, a retinal suite and diagnostics.

As part of this £6.5 million investment in the centre, the second floor will hold ear, nose and throat services, audiology and oral surgery.

This will include specialist audiology booths, consulting rooms and ear, nose and throat treatment rooms.

The renovations are due to be completed by July.

Breast services will move to the Gainsborough Wing at Colchester General Hospital with a £3.5 million redevelopment project at the wing due to finish in February.

David White, chairman of the trust, said: “This shows the trust is investing in the future of Colchester Hospital.

“This approach is about bringing two hospitals together, it is not about a loss of services or commitments to either hospital.”

“Nuclear medicine” will relocate to a new Turner Diagnostic Centre, being developed in partnership with Alliance Medical, which is expected to be completed by March.