Services aim to address Essex town's health issues

New services aimed to meet specific health issues have been introduced in an Essex town.

A new outpatient clinic for people with cancer is to be established at the Fryatt Hospital in Harwich.

A new trauma and orthopaedics clinic is to open in the port town and a senior nurse practitioner will now be on duty every day at a minor injuries unit.

A new service is also being introduced by the end of December to help people lose weight.

Healthy living support

"Higher levels of deprivation mean the overall general health of people living in Harwich is lower than in other parts of north east Essex," Pam Green, from NHS North East Essex, said.

"For example, there are high rates of teenage pregnancy, obesity and smoking and high proportion of older people needing specialised support.

"We need to target services that will promote healthy living."

The aim is to offer more support to help people manage long term conditions like diabetes.

The new facilities will also help improve access to specialist health living support and advice services such as the health trainers programme, she said.