Improving health, social and community services in Thurrock has moved another step forward as building work has begun on the new Integrated Medical Centre (IMC) in Corringham. 

To mark the start of building works, leaders from the Thurrock Integrated Care Partnership - which includes the NHS, Thurrock Council and the voluntary sector - invited Corringham residents, staff and parents of Graham James Primary Academy and local councillors to a virtual engagement event to find out more about the building works and what services the centre will provide when it opens next year. 

Stephanie Dawe, Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Integrated Care for Essex and Kent, NELFT, said: “The new medical centre will be at the heart of the community, so the virtual engagement event was a great opportunity for us to tell residents what services Corringham IMC will provide, and how we are ensuring local people are kept safe and updated during the building works.

“There were a number of questions from the public on the safety of the building works, parking and transport, and why we’re building integrated medical centres, and we had a panel of people behind the programme on hand to answer. We will be holding more engagement events in the future – and we hope some of them can be in person once COVID restrictions have lifted – so please keep an eye on the Better Care Together website for the latest news on the project.”

Due to open its doors to the community in spring 2022, Corringham IMC is one of four new medical centres being created across Thurrock as part of the Better Care Together Thurrock transformation programme, led by the Thurrock Integrated Care Partnership. These new centres will not only transform health and social care services in the area, but will improve GP waiting times, reduce the number of people needing to be admitted to hospital, and future proof these services for a growing population. 

Corringham IMC, which is being funded by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) which provides community care and mental health services for children and young people in Essex, Kent and London, will be home to a range of health and social care services including adults and children’s mental health services, GP services, blood testing and general outpatient services. The Better Care Together Thurrock partnership is working closely with the appointed building contractor, Neilcott Construction, to ensure the building works are safe and considerate of the local community.  

Mark Tebbs, NHS Alliance Director, Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We know changing how and where health and social care services are provided can be worrying but, now more than ever, we need to look at different - and better - ways of delivering care. 

“Health, social care and community teams will be able to provide better, more joined up care to local people in these new, 21st century facilities.” 
Councillor Allen Mayes, Cabinet Member for Health and Air Quality, who presented at the event, said: “I was pleased to support this event and the Better Care Together Thurrock Partnership, whose teams, from next year, will provide the local area with a number of vital health and social care services closer to residents’ homes. 

 “The council is fully committed to the development of four IMCs across the borough, moving from outdated, isolated facilities and patchy services, to specially-designed buildings in our communities, delivering a joined up service model that places residents at its heart.”

Corringham IMC is being built close to Graham James Primary Academy, the partners have been and will continue to work closely with the local community, including the school, local businesses and GPs, to make sure this new facility meets the needs of the local area and the residents of Thurrock. 

To find out more information, and be kept up to date with the latest events, please visit https://bettercaretogetherthurrock.org/ and https://bettercaretogetherthurrock.org/changes-in-the-community/corringham-integrated-medical-centre/ 

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Better Care Together is a transformation programme for and by the people of Thurrock, and includes the following partners; North East London Foundation Trust, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Thurrock Clinical Community Group, Thurrock Council and Thurrock CVS (Community Voluntary Services)
• The four IMCs will be opened in Corringham, Tilbury/Chadwell, Purfleet and Grays, with each offering a GP service, blood testing, mental health care and a range of other treatments, clinics and community services. One centre will also have an urgent care facility.
• Healthcare services that are currently provided at Orsett Hospital will be transferring to the four integrated medical centres, but Orsett Hospital will remain open and operational until all four centres are built
• More information on Corringham Integrated Medical Centre is available here: https://bettercaretogetherthurrock.org/changes-in-the-community/corringham-integrated-medical-centre/