THURROCK's MP has called on health authorities to ensure the safety of visitors to remaining services at Orsett Hospital – after it was announced the minor injuries there is to be moved to Grays.

MP Jen Craft was speaking in the wake of Thurrock Nub News' report yesterday, confirming the closure of the minor injuries unit on the Orsett site – and after the Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust announced it had major concerns about safety at the village hospital.

Mrs Craft said: "Like everyone in Thurrock, I'm extremely concerned by growing speculation about the closure of Orsett Hospital.

"Given NHS leaders have wanted to shut the site for years, with chronic underinvestment in the hospital, reports of safety issues come as no surprise.

"We now have plans for the first service to move out of Orsett, with the minor injuries unit relocating to Thurrock Community Hospital.

"This decision in itself makes sense, particularly with the new Community Diagnostic Centre there providing opportunities for better, more joined up care.

"But as everyone who uses that hospital knows, parking is a major issue. Working with residents, I will be closely interrogating plans to ensure there is more parking available at the site.

"I will continue to fight any attempt to close Orsett until there is a plan for every service to be delivered elsewhere, in a way that works for patients.

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"If the hospital building is unsafe, NHS leaders must set out how they will ensure people in Thurrock can still access the care they need."

Also see: Is today doomsday for Orsett Hospital? Rumours that NHS is to close it down abound. Announcement is expected