Plans to build an Integrated Medical Centre that will bring health and care services to the heart of Tilbury are set to take a significant step forward with Thurrock Council expected to give the green light to provide up to £20million of funding.

The Tilbury IMC is one of four planned across the borough, along with others in Purfleet, Corringham, and Grays - replacing services provided by Orsett Hospital.

The council and its NHS partners are investing in health and care services to make them more accessible, closer to home and ensure they are provided in modern, purpose-built facilities.

The centres will also improve access to clinical services currently located at Orsett Hospital.

Thurrock Council’s Cabinet is expected to agree to fund the construction of the IMC in Tilbury at its meeting on Wednesday 12 September.

Cllr James Halden, portfolio holder for Health, said: “The proposed new Integrated Medical Centre in Tilbury will significantly improve the range and quality of health and care services available, and assist in the regeneration of Tilbury Civic Square.

“It will bring modern social care, community health, hospital and GP services together under one roof, much closer to the communities of Tilbury and Chadwell.

“The NHS have been clear, in line with the understanding we shaped with them, that Orsett Hospital will not close until the new integrated medical centres in Thurrock are up and running to take on hospital services. No clinical services will be moving out of Thurrock.

“We are also taking big steps to get the other three centres up and running as soon as possible, including working with Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust to improve access and parking at the community hospital site in Grays. It’s Thurrock’s hospital and we want it to be bigger and better than ever.

“We are also looking at what other acute hospital care we can move into these modern new buildings, closer to people in Thurrock, including mental health services.”

Mandy Ansell, Accountable Officer at NHS Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We have been working very closely with our council colleagues to bring this Integrated Medical Centre to the people of Tilbury. This forms part of our wider vision to transform Thurrock’s health and care services.

“We are hopeful that this funding will be a big step in the right direction for bringing this particular project along and our vision of better services for Thurrock in Thurrock. The other three IMCs are also in the planning stages and we hope to have all four up and running by the end of 2021.”

It is expected that the Tilbury IMC will be built on the site of the Tilbury Community Resource Centre in Civic Square. Subject to consultation and planning processes, it is planned that the building work will be completed by the end of 2021.

Before the Cabinet meeting on 12 September, the proposals will go to the council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 6 September, and its Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 11 September.