MINOR injuries units across north Essex have been saved thanks to plans to overhaul health care in the area.

It had been feared the units in Colchester, Clacton and Harwich would be axed in a bid to save cash.

But North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group bosses are set to rubber stamp plans to allow all three units to remain open for the foreseeable future.

Each unit looks set to be asked to take on extra responsibilities - which have not yet been outlined by the group - while residents will encouraged to make better use of community health care facilities such as pharmacies, GP surgeries and support helplines.

Health chiefs also hope the plans could slash ambulance waiting times because fewer ambulances would be delayed while waiting to hand over patients to Colchester General Hospital’s accident and emergency department.

In documents published this evening which will go before commissioning bosses in one week's time, it states: “This service would look to expand and enhance what is currently treated at the minor injury units, shifting more activity from A&E to the community.

“While we have specified this would have a presence in Colchester and Tendring and that we would look to utilise existing buildings, we are focusing on it being a service, not a building, in that we would like to work closer with primary care over the course of the contract to develop opportunities for the service to be delivered even more more locally across north east Essex.

“This approach would aim, in parallel, to provide greater support for people to self-care.

“However, for other minor illness, patients would access their GP practice or out of hours service.”

The report adds: “The approach currently assumes that the minor injury services will continue to be based in existing sites at the primary care centre in Colchester, Clacton Hospital and Fryatt Hospital, as there are no better sites available currently.

“Potential future requirements have been included within the estates strategy.”

As part of the plans, bosses hope to create an integrated urgent care service, which will be made up of the 24/7 NHS 111 helpline, better clinical support and greater access to out-of-hours services.

Health chief do admit the whole plan - which could cost up to an extra £1.9 million over five years - will be based on whether patients choose to heed the advice or continue to attend the accident and emergency in Colchester unnecessarily.

However, a financial assessments states if the move is a success, it could save up to £2.83 million after five years.

The report adds: “The approach would expect a shift in activity for minor conditions, moving from A&E to the minor injury service and primary care.

“This would support people with serious urgent care needs to be seen safely within A&E.”

It also states: “Providing an enhanced range of minor injuries in the community setting will improve patient experience, treating patients closer to home.

“The ambulance trust would have an alternative setting to convey people with a minor injury, which would reduce the number of conveyances to A&E and any subsequent handover delays.

“Ambulances’ turnaround would improve, supporting their availability to respond to community calls within the required time frame, meaning patients are not waiting significant periods for an ambulance.

“Maintaining services in local areas, ensures that the most deprived areas and those with significant older populations are able to access services closer to home.

“Through potential future integration with primary care, this model has the ability to provide care even more locally to those areas with high need, through the hub and spoke model of primary care.”