BASILDON Council bosses say they are committed to moving as many health services as possible into the town centre in a bid to make it more convenient for patients.

Basildon Council has agreed to work closely with Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commission Group and Basildon Hospital to provide the services.

David Harrison, chairman of the authority’s neighbourhood and public spaces committee, said: “My committee is keen to get details of how to improve the health care provisions in the town centre.

“With the number of new homes coming there’s going to be big demand for more services and we need to move fairly quickly.

“As a committee we are dedicated to push to get more health services in the town centre.

“I think as many health services as possible need to be in the town centre so people can get everything in one place, that is the ideal and would also work for most other places.

“We will be asking the NHS for more information on this during our next meeting in the new year.

“We also need to look at services in others towns such as Wickford, I’ve been pushing for more blood tests servies for some time now.”

If agreed, the council, hospital and clinical commissioning group could bring a range of hospital services to the centre of the town - crucially, away from the main hospital.

The ideas are being mooted to act as a way to boost footfall and interest in the town centre as well as providing better and faster access to health care for the borough.

Residents say they support health services in Basildon town centre.

Pat Moorely, 67, of Timberlog Lane, Basildon said: “It would be helpful to have a doctors in the town centre.

“It could also take some pressure off the hospital as well as the hardworking doctors in the area.

“It could help to take some of the less urgent hospital services such as check up clinics to the town.”

She added: “We all know we need to improve and provide more health care and the council should be praised for pushing for this.”

The commissioning group confirmed it is working with the council on plans to improve healthcare in the town.

A spokesman for Basildon Hospital said: “Early discussions with Basildon Council are currently taking place, no decisions have been made at this time.”