Witham MP supports calls for new orthopaedic centre at Colchester Hospital
Witham MP, Priti Patel, is supporting calls for a new specialist orthopaedic centre to be built at Colchester Hospital.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is currently considering proposals to invest £30 million into a new orthopaedic centre at either Colchester Hospital or Ipswich Hospital. All orthopaedic patients from both hospitals will be treated at the new centre and the Trust is planning to launch a consultation on the proposals next year. Priti has written to the Chief Executive of the Trust to make the case for the new centre to be built at Colchester Hospital.
Priti said: “This significant investment is extremely welcome and will help to upgrade patient pathways, improve service quality and reduce waiting times. I am supporting calls for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to select Colchester Hospital as the preferred site for this new centre and I have raised this directly with the Chief Executive at the Trust.
“In my constituency, there is no hospital or other significant outpatient service and it would be disappointing if my constituents had to travel even further to access vital health services. If the new orthopaedic centre was based in Ipswich, my constituents would have to travel more than 20 miles to attend an appointment, which would be difficult for a number of patients, especially those who have limited access to appropriate transport services.
“I have made it clear to the Chief Executive at the Trust that they must carefully consider travel implications for patients and staff following the centralisation of services and that they must provide appropriate transport services for those who have to travel further to the new centre for their operations. A consultation on these proposals is due to be launched next year and I would encourage my constituents to respond to this consultation, when it opens”.