Patients using the Westcliff Centre in Balmoral Road for mental Health treatment have been reassured they will not lose out with the centre's closure yesterday (Thursday).

The move is part of South Essex Mental Health and Community Care NHS Trust's plans which will ultimately lead to establishing a one-stop shop resource centre for the Southend area.

Community psychiatric nurses and social workers based in Westcliff, and their patients, will transfer to either the Shoebury or Southend local mental health team.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.