CAMPAIGNERS turned out in force to protested against plans that could see minor injuries units axed across north Essex.

The North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group is reviewing the future of the units because the contracts for the services are due to expire at the end of March 2018.

One option is to close the services provided in Colchester, Harwich and Clacton while another is to set up a new unit serving Colchester and Tendring.

A third option is to leave all three as they are.

More than 100 people took part in a march in Clacton on Saturday organised by the Labour Party and health workers from the union Unison.

Michael Le Cornu, chairman of Tendring Pensioners’ Action group, joined the march from Victoria Road to Martello Bay.

He said: “We need to stop any plans for the closure of the minor injuries units.

“We have long made the case that we need more medical facilities here, not less.”

“We think that we need a new hospital.”

Labour party activist Dan Casey, from Jaywick, added: “We have a lot of tourists here and a lot of elderly people - not everyone will have the transport to travel to Colchester.

“Colchester Hospital’s accident and emergency department already can’t cope with the numbers they have and it will only get worse if the minor injuries units go.”

Sam Older, Unison regional organiser, hit out at health bosses for proposing any plans to cut services in the district.

“We are concerned that health services will be cut as part of this review.

“There does need to be transformation in the NHS, but you can’t have transformation without funding.

“We are seeing more vacancies than ever before in the NHS.

“Closing these units will also affect our members who work at Colchester and are already under pressure.”

Some of the protesters exchanged angry words with Clacton activist William Hones, who used to megaphone to question Labour Party supporters over the issue of health tourism.

A demonstration also took place outside the Electric Palace in Harwich on Saturday where health chiefs were holding an ‘engagement session’ over the plans.

Organiser and Harwich town councillor Maison Urwin said: “Fryatt Hospital in Dovercourt is relatively new and underused.

“The CCG consistently made the point that the A&E in Colchester is overstretched, so they should not be closing units - they should be developing services.”

Health bosses said patients have until Wednesday to give their views about the shake-up.

Sam Hepplewhite, chief officer at the CCG, said: “While the board will make a final decision on the future of these services, I can report that the approach to close all three units is the least favoured option from the feedback we have received to date.

“This will be taken into careful consideration – along with other issues such as future affordability and clinical need – before our board make its final decision in May.”