HEALTH bosses say they are “confident” plans for a long-awaited new doctor’s surgery in Holland-on-Sea are “moving forward”.

A new surgery is needed to replace the overcrowded and dated Frinton Road Medical Practice, but works on a new building in Ipswich Road are dependent on NHS funding.

The new surgery would cater for 6,000 patients and is expected to cost between £1.5million and £2million.

Ian Stidson, director of commissioning for NHS England’s Essex Area Team, told Tendring Council’s community leadership and partnerships scrutiny committee he was “very aware” of how long the issue of a new GP surgery had been discussed, but he was “now confident this was, at last, moving forward”.

He said progression was on the back of the reorganisation of NHS England and it had maintained its commitment to the development of a new surgery by identifying funds over a five-year plan.

Mr Stidson added the original option of the Ipswich Road site and the development at Kennedy Way, which is more advanced, were both being considered to determine which would be the most suitable.

He added a full financial analysis appraisal of both sites was due for completion and residents would be advised which of the two sites would be the best option for a GP surgery.