THURROCK residents are being invited to submit their opinions on plans to merge the organisation responsible for providing healthcare in Thurrock with others across the region.

A 'discussion document' for public feedback on the proposals for NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups in Mid and South Essex to come together has been created.

The proposal is to merge Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group with a number of its neighbours – taking health service control out of the borough.

The proposed changes, set out in an online document called "Working Together for Mid and South Essex – Share your views on how NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups are proposing to work together". It can be accessed via the red additional information button below.

There are 1.2 million people living in Mid and South Essex, who are served by a £1.64 billion budget, currently managed jointly by the five CCGs.

Anand Deshpande, Chair of NHS Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group says: "The proposed merger of the five CCGs in mid and south Essex would help ensure health and care services in the future are more consistent across the area and will help reduce some of the costs involved in commissioning, freeing up more money for services.

"At the same time we want to maintain a strong connection with the local areas currently served by the five CCGs, making sure services have a strong local and clinical focus, as well as being provided in the context of supporting our whole integrated system of health, social and community care.

"This is why we want to hear the views of local people, health and care professionals and partner organisations on what matters to them, if we are to merge into a single commissioning organisation".

"The CCGs are seeking views from local people, healthcare professionals and partner organisations on how we can maintain a strong focus on ensuring health and care services are working for people at a local level.

"We also want to see what the benefits and risks are of commissioning services over a wider area, and how we can maintain a strong clinical and patient focus as the CCGs begin the process of becoming a single commissioning body."