COUNCILLORS across Thurrock's political spectrum have delivered a critical assessment on plans for Thurrock's new four integrated medical centres and expressed deep concern – and no little shock and anger – after being told they are likely to fall well short of expectations!

The Conservative councillor chairing this evening's (Thursday, 17 June) meeting of Thurrock Council's health and well-being overview and scrutiny committee, that debated an update on the plans, even went as far as describing officer comments about the scheme as "a load of rubbish."

Cllr Shane Ralph, whose Stanford East and Corringham Town ward will house one of the four centres – which is the only one of the quartet actually under construction – said the new centre was 'not fit for purpose.'

He was particularly aggrieved to learn that the centre will probably not play host to a new GP team and offer general practice facilities for new patients in the two towns, but instead is simply likely to be the place where current practices relocate to – not increasing the number of patient opportunities in an area already under huge pressure.

Cllr Ralph spoke up after a presentation on the current position on the plans to build news centres (the other three are in Tilbury, Grays and Purfleet) which will then mean Orsett Hospital will be closed.

The report was delivered to the committee by Christopher Smith, the council's programme manager for adults, housing and health – though it became apparent later that the majority of the six councillors at the meeting didn't know who he was or what his role was.

Mr Smith's presentation told councillors that despite the impact of the pandemic, particularly on acute services provided by Basildon Hospital, good progress has been made with planning, financing and service transformation for all four IMCs, and "dedicated programme management continues in place".

His report can be read in full via this link but it clearly did little to impress the councillors.

Indeed, Cllr Victoria Holloway rubbished it, saying it was just another rehashing of things that had gone before.

She said: "Everything grows more concerning. Each time we find new hurdles and now we are going to be telling people this is not extra on top what we have but something in place of it.

"I am seeing the same reports for a couple of years now. I just don't want to keep seeing this. I want to see what's going on. I want to see more.

"I am not even sure who was presenting to us. I am not happy about this."

Her concerns, particularly about the fact that it now seems that early optimism about the new centre expanding the number of people who will be served by a new local GP was misplaced.

The committee was emphatically told by Ian Wake, the council's corporate director of adults, housing and health: "No one has ever promised additional capacity! I still fervently believe if we create workspace that is really attractive Thurrock will be in a greater position to attract staff but no-one can force GPs and health staff to come to Thurrock."

Mr Wake went on to expound his theory that the centres will be a shop window for new GPs.

"It is a little bit tricky but the concept behind the centres is to create spaces that are fantastically appealing to new doctors coming through.

"We are in a competitive market.

"But it's not just about doctors, primary care is much broader than GPs."

Cllr Ralph challenged him immediately, saying: "Basically it's a load of rubbish. The IMC is not fit for purpose in Corringham.

"We need new doctors and a new surgery not just switching existing surgeries to it. I take your point but when we looked at how many houses we are building in Thurrock we were given promises. If we can't get enough doctors we shouldn't build the houses. We were promised those doctors.

Mr Wake countered: "I don't think we did promise that", prompting a clearly upset and concerned Cllr Ralph to say: "I am really confused by this.

Cllr Holloway backed Cllr Ralph, saying: "The four additional health centres were to increase capacity before Orsett Hospital was closed. This was about increased capacity.

"Now we hear that in Corringham and Purfleet existing medical centres will close and move to new centres. That was not what we and residents understood was going to happen.

Recently elected Cllr Georgette Polley was in no doubt that the view being presented now differed to what she had seen promised and she said the issue of recruiting staff to Thurrock was not new.

"The recruitment of doctors has long been an issue in Thurrock. Fifteen years ago we were going to Spain and all over to get GPs.

"It is concerning to see we still have this problem.

"And my understanding was that IMCs were not to replace services but to increase services and free up space at Basildon Hospital.

"At no point did I ever have in my mindset that we were building for existing GPs to transfer from their old facility. I am not quite sure where I have missed that transition. I am very concerned. To be suggesting that there will be no new positions is a major concern."

And Cllr Polley also picked up on concerns that the new building at Tilbury, Purfleet and Grays might have to be further delayed or their cost go up because of new NHS environmental concerns. Mr Smith had warned that the NHS was now looking for all new builds to be 'net zero carbon'.

"Net zero carbon! What do you mean? It just sounds expensive to me," she said.

Mr Wake elaborated, saying: "Since the report was written, things have move on. To answer your question honestly I don't know as no guidance has been issued! It would be unreasonable for the NHS to move the goalposts so I am hopeful that in Tilbury we can return to the original timescale of 2024."

Cllr Terry Piccolo turned the spotlight on the proposed new IMC in Grays, saying he was surprised to see that it appeared it was just old building being recycled, rather than a new, modern centre.

He said: "It's going to be the reuse of 19 old buildings. I just cannot accept we cannot put new buildings in. If Grays is going to be the flagship, we should not be reusing 40-year-old buildings."

That was a concern shared by Cllr Ralph who said: "We have been shown plans for the development with new buildings.

"We need to be putting the thumbscrews on to get this right. We need to know what's happening. And we need assurance that Orsett Hospital will not be shut until all this is sorted. The deadlines for some of these centres is 2025 and 2026, that's without delays so Orsett must not close before then."

Clllr Polley said: "We must stress that nothing at Orsett be shut closed. We must send a strong message of concern."

Present at the meeting for the first time was Neil Woodbridge, co-opted to represent Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions (TLS) and bring a fresh and informed perspective to meetings.

He remarked that the need for innovative plans to bring doctors to Thurrock was nothing new. He said that several years ago directors at TLS has suggested the council sponsor 'clever young people' in Thurrock to go to university and train to be doctors on condition that for the first few years of their service, they came back to the borough to work.

"That would not have been that expensive in real terms and would roll on year on year.

"At the time that got laughed at. It doesn't seem so silly now," he said.

Mr Wake summed up by saying: "No one is more frustrated than me wih the lack of progress," and he added the IMC programme was "the most complex project I have worked on. It is enormously complicated."

The whole meeting can be viewed via this link.