Plans for a new ‘healthy living centre’ in Purfleet to ease pressure on GPs and hospitals were unveiled last week.

Top Thurrock health chiefs said the ‘state-of-the-art’ centre would house GPs, mental health, housing, and hospital services like X rays all under one roof.

The purpose-built centre is part of Purfleet's planned £800 million regeneration, although bosses have not yet confirmed how much the centre will cost.

Health bods said they were planning the move to help ease the pressure currently put on GP clinics and hospital resources.

Council reps along with Thurrock CCG and Thurrock Healthwatch met with members of the Purfleet community to discuss the plans last week at the High House Production Park.

Horndon on the Hill GP, Dr Vaiyapuri Raja, from Thurrock CCG, hailed the plans as bringing in a ‘new era of healthcare and wellbeing.’

Dr Raja said: "I was delighted to see so many people from Purfleet and Thurrock join us as we look forward to a new Healthy Living Centre for Purfleet, part of the £800million regeneration plan that will bring much needed transformation to the area.”

He added the new centre would “bring together elements of acute and primary care, linked to community services on an unprecedented scale.

“The new leading edge building will offer staff and patients a new environment and era of healthcare and wellbeing."

Councillor James Halden, Portfolio Holder for Health and Education, said it was one of a number of plans he was working on to attract best GPs to Thurrock.

He said: "Integrating NHS, council and voluntary sector services under one roof will be both more convenient for patients, and make the role of GPs and other health professionals more rewarding.

“Improving the quality of our local GP services is one of my top priorities. This is one of a number of plans I am working on to attract the best GPs to Thurrock."

Thurrock CCG Chair, Anand Deshpande said: "Our primary care model will be locally based and health and social care teams will deliver coordinated care closer to, or at home.

"Central to the Purfleet regeneration is the chance to implement desperately needed health and wellbeing improvements.

"A 21st Century health facility can affect wide-ranging change and dispel the thought that the poorer a population the worse their health provision is likely to be."

Basildon Hospital services which are likely to be brought over to the clinic include outpatient clinics and diagnostic services, such as blood tests, x-rays, electro-cardiograms and ultra-sound.

Dr Raja, speaking during the event, added: "It's so important that we bring people together like this as we continue on the journey, so that everyone's views can really help shape what is possible, for new services, now and into the future.”