Essex County To Close?

24 February 2010, 16:40 | Updated: 24 February 2010, 17:05

Plans to close Essex County Hospital in Colchester are being discussed at a meeting tomorrow.

It's one of four options being put forward in a new report after health bosses deemed the Lexden Road site "at the end of it's useful life".

Essex County was first opened in the 1820's and is land locked in a conservation area so there's little room to expand the site.  The current buildings are also in need of major repairs with some estimates that it'll cost more than £10m to refurbish.

Logistically parking at the hospital is also a problem with cars regularly overflowing onto the main Lexden Road.

The Trust board recently agreed an outline business case for the transfer of radiotherapy services to the main Colchester General site.

The Trust is also looking to make £38m savings between now and 2015 and as part of that need to look at all of their assets.

In total, four options are being considered:

1) Do nothing and leave things as they are

2) Develop the current site and refurbish

3) Consolidate acute services on Colchester General Hospital

4) Phased withdrawal and re-provision of all services at Colchester General Hospital