A NEW £1.5million 'super surgery' is set to be created in Clacton.

The move, which will involve the refurbishment of NHS offices at Kennedy House, in Kennedy Way, is part of a £325million Government modernisation fund.

It will allow two dated GP practices - Epping Close Surgery and Frinton Road Medical Centre - to move into the building, vacating their existing “cramped and unsuitable accommodation”.

The surgeries currently have a total of almost 9,000 patients, but the new 'hub' could support up to 11,800 patients by 2021.

The new centre will also accommodate staff from Anglian Community Enterprise to continue to provide a range of community health services, including a training facility at the site to support people to manage their long term conditions such as diabetes.

Sam Hepplewhite, chief officer at North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “I strongly welcome this additional government investment which will help us to further improve primary care services in this area of Clacton.

“As a CCG, we are focusing on enhancing primary care services and ensuring these are provided from fit for purpose buildings.

“The area has a unique set of challenges including increased numbers of people living with long term conditions, the prediction of a significant population increase over the next ten years and high rates of emergency admissions to hospital.

“There is also a workforce shortage issue to contend with too with a high number of local GPs due to retire imminently.”

The funding is part of a successful bid by the Suffolk and North East Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) after the Government announced an additional £325million for capital health projects earlier this year.

Susannah Howard, programme director at the partnership, said the area has been awarded a share of the cash after being recognised as being one of the 15 highest performing areas in the country.

“This funding will help us to modernise and transform health and care for our patients,” she said.

"Everyone working in the health and care system is committed to ensuring it is successful and achieving an advanced rating shows that we are on the right tracks to ensure we are successful.”

Clacton MP Giles Watling said he was thrilled that the town would benefit from the fund.

He said: “I am delighted to welcome new investment which will mean patients get an even better service from the NHS in Clacton.

“I firmly believe this investment will be put to excellent use for the maximum benefit of my constituents.

“I am particularly pleased that the existing premises shall be put to good use, and that community services will also continue to thrive.

“I have always been committed to a clinician-led approach therefore the support of local clinicians gives me great confidence in these plans.”

Jane Mower, estates development manager for North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group,  said the combined patient list size for the practices is 8,928.

She added: "However, the reconfiguration will include additional capacity to enable the practices to support up to 11,800 patients by 2021.

"It is envisaged that further investigation will take place in working in partnership with Anglian Community Enterprise in increasing the primary care provision from this development incorporating further Care Closer to Home Services.

“Subject to the Outline Business Case and Project Plan being approved by NHS England, it is expected the development will be undertaken in two phases.

"The monies provided would enable the first phase to be complete by the end of March 2018, this will involve relocating Epping Close Surgery from its current location, next to the development in Kennedy Way, the second phase is being aimed to be completed during the third quarter of 2018/19 for Frinton Road services to be relocated.

"All of this is subject to full patient engagement processes.”