Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of a) minor injuries and b) urgent care services in South Essex; and what plans he has to expand the range of these services at Orsett Hospital.

Responsibility for commissioning urgent care services, including minor injury services, sits with local National Health Service integrated care boards (ICBs), which assess and respond to the needs of their populations. In South Essex, NHS Essex ICB is working with local partners to assess current provision and future needs.

There are no current plans to expand urgent care services at Orsett Hospital. In the wider area, a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) is now providing diagnostic services in Thurrock, and is located near the Orsett site. The impact of the new CDC on patient flow is being assessed with further data expected over summer 2026. This will inform any next steps to improve access and services.

In parallel, the ICB is evaluating the potential for a neighbourhood health centre near the CDC, while Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is reviewing activity at Orsett Hospital to ensure services continue to be delivered closer to patients’ homes.