A MEDICAL practice in Maldon could be moved into the town’s new hospital.

The Blackwater Medical Practice on Princes Road could be relocated to the planned new community hub.

A job advert for a GP states the centre is: “Involved with the initiative for new local community hospital but no hospital commitment and the possibility of moving on site of this development.”

Maldon District Council and the Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which funds NHS services in Maldon, have appointed a project manager to oversee the de- livery of a new community hospital by June 2020.

The project manager will consider plans for the hospital, including whether or not the St Peter’s Hospital site on Spital Road will be redeveloped or whether a new site would also house a relocated Blackwater Practice.

Tom Kelly, a former NHS administrator and member of the Blackwater Patient Participation Group, said: “I expect the CCG will want to reduce the number of practices and centres they have, so that they don’t have to front up costs to run them.

"But this notion was raised previously with the group, and it was viewed as potentially a no-go.

"It would depend on where the new health hub would be based and how it would run, but speaking personally I imagine there would be strong reservations from the patient group members.

“It’s at the stage now where people don’t believeanything will happen or any improvements will be made, as there are always problems transforming the medical care.”

A Mid Essex CCG spokesman said: “The new facilities will include primary care and a range of services currently operating at St Peter’s, offering people living in and around Maldon a first point of contact for the health services they might need.

"It is too early to say what the final design, size and location will be but NHS England, the CCG and Maldon District Council are still reviewing options.”