PATIENTS and the public have less than a week to give their views to a shake-up of urgent care in Colchester and Tendring.

It comes as major protest marches are planned for Clacton and Harwich on Saturday.

The North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group has been staging public events and visiting support groups across the region about its plans.

It has four options concerning the Minor Injury Units at Clacton and Harwich and the Walk in Centre in Colchester.

They are:

1. To continue to commission a Walk in Centre service in Colchester and Minor Injury Units at Clacton and Harwich.

2. To stop providing the Walk in Centre and Minor Injury Unit services. Patients would be required to contact NHS 111. They would be directed by NHS 111 to their local GP, Out of Hours GP or encouraged to self-care (helping people to look after themselves).

3. The establishment of a minor injury service - This proposal would see the establishment of a minor injury service which would see and treat a range of minor injuries, from fractures, wounds requiring stitching to infected bites, taking the pressure off A&E. This service would have sites in Colchester and Tendring - dependent on where there is greatest need.

4. Other views and ideas form members of the public.

The final two public meetings are taking place at the following days, times and venues:

• Friday 24 February - 7pm-8pm at Stanway Village Hall, Villa Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 5RH

• Saturday 25 February - 11am-12noon at Electric Palace Theatre, King's Quay St, Harwich CO12 3ER.

The reason for the review is because contracts for these services are due to expire at the end of March 2018.

CCG Chief officer Sam Hepplewhite praised the public for their input and said while the board still has to make a decision, the least favoured option was to close all three units.

She reminded people have until March 1 to give their comments, with a decision likely in May.

More information about the public consultation can be found at www.neessexccg.nhs.uk

The last minute bid for comments come as campaigns against possible closure mount.

On Saturday the Clacton Labour Party stages a march in the town.

Campaigners in Harwich will also hold a protest outside an engagement meeting over the plans at the Electric Palace cinema, in Kings Quay Street on the same day.

Labour Party Press Officer Su Butcher explained. “The March has been inspired by the depth of feeling shown at our recent petitioning sessions. We want to give people the chance to make their feelings known. We’ve been in touch with the District Council and the Police and they are supportive, so we’re now putting the final plans in place.”

Clacton UKIP councillor Andy Pemberton has also been petitioning against potential closures, with him also launching his own online campaign.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/have-your-say-future-of-our-minor-injuries-unite

Details of the Clacton march can be found at http://bit.ly/clactonmiumarch