ANY hope that Thurrock will get its four promised state-of the art health centres have been dashed as it is confirmed there is no cash to build them all.

Thurrock residents have waited for seven years for Integrated Health and Wellbeing Centres to be built at Corringham, Tilbury/Chadwell, Purfleet and Grays.

To date, only Corringham is up and running. Grays will be created on the Long Lane community hospital site using a combination of new build and existing buildings.

Aleksandra Mecan, alliance director at Thurrock Council, gave a verbal report to Thurrock Council health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee.

She said: "NHS England have to date not approved the business cases for either Purfleet or Tilbury and the current proposals have been deemed as non-affordable.

Ms Mecan said a number of alternatives were being looked at including negotiating for cheaper leases, smaller buildings and utilising current NHS sites across the borough.

She said: "These last three years have been challenging for Mid and South Essex with resources being tight, the covid pandemic still showing its impact and strike action absorbing a number of resources and the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board having to reduce in size due to the national guidance.

"However, together, Thurrock Council staff and Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board staff having been working very closely under the programme governance to examine alternative approaches to making sure we deliver a programme as soon as possible."

The closure of Orsett Hospital was dependent on the four health centres taking over the hospital's services. A proposal to close Orsett in 2025 is now under review.

Cllr Mark Hooper, chairman of the committee said: "I'm totally amazed. I feel the people of Thurrock are being conned. We were promised,, with the closure of the hospital, we would have these four top-notch health hubs across the borough. We had the business case to have these four hubs, appropriate funding being in place.

"I'm just shocked and dismayed by what I'm hearing. Promises were made to the people of Thurrock seven years ago in 2016."

Cllr Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, added: "This has been a disgrace let's make no mistake about it. We've met absolute incompetence, we've met disinterest and we've met apathy about the needs of the people of Thurrock and the complete disrespect of this council."

Councillors wer also told that there is no money for long-awaited and needed improvements to Orsett Hospital under its scheduled maintenace programme.

Watch the meeting here: