Residents and community leaders say they feel let down because a long-awaited hospital is still failing to meet their needs.

The Fryatt Hospital and the Mayflower Medical Centre, in Main Road, Dovercourt, opened in September 2006.

More than 18 months on there are still problems with the services it provides.

Staff and patients at the hospital were expected to benefit from the £12.5 million investment in it.

However, Steven Henderson, chairman of Harwich Town Council, said many residents have been left feeling frustrated and let down by the North East Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT).

He said the PCT had failed to provide the facilities it promised.

Mr Henderson said: "As soon as the hospital was built the floor started to bubble up everywhere and now needs to be replaced.

"They also built a kitchen that's not fit for service, so the meals still have to be transferred from Colchester to Harwich. The whole thing has been a white elephant."

John Brown, a Harwich town and Tendring district councillor, said: "The people of Harwich have been misled. They have been promised a lot and it just hasn't happened."

A PCT spokesman said it was working with Realise Health in order to replace 30 to 40 per cent of the flooring.

She said: "Representatives from the PCT are meeting contractors next week.

"Once a timetable for the work has been agreed, we expect it to be completed and the hospital fully operational within three to six months.

"This includes moving GP services on to the site."

She added: "Kitchens at The Fryatt Hospital also need work to bring them up to standard, and we are planning to do this once the flooring issues have been resolved.

"In the meantime, food will continue to be brought in from Colchester General Hospital, which is a perfectly acceptable process."

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