SOUTHEND Hospital is set for a new emergency care "village" as part of £8million plans to remodel its A&E department.

Mid and South Essex NHS Trust Board papers revealed the move which would see departments such as rapid assessment bays, urgent care, clinical decision unit, majors, and minors - all located in the same place.

It will form part of the £8million funding to invest and expand the emergency department at Southend Hospital.

It is hoped the plans will increase capacity, improve patient waiting times and future proof the department for a growing population.

But the news come after the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, which leads Southend, Basildon, and Broomfield hospitals, confirmed 600 jobs will be wiped from the budget at south Essex hospitals.

It is understood the 600 jobs are long-term vacancies, but these posts may be covered by agency or bank staff, which the trust is also aiming to reduce.

As a result of the proposed cuts, only vacancies where there is an “immediate urgency” will be filled and all new vacancies will be put to a panel to determine if they need to be filled.

However, concerns have been raised about whether this could lead to increased strain on already stretched services due to an influx of people in one place.

Daniel Nelson, Conservative Southend councillor responsible for public health, believes there needs to be more walk-in centres, and separate minor units in the city.

He said: “I long advocated for Southend to have a minor unit separate to the hospital for the simple reason of the strain of putting all these people through one place.

“Whilst I appreciate the strain A&E is under, and the strain Mid and South Essex NHS Trust have, sticking plasters aren’t going to get us out of this.

“We must look at bringing more minor units, and walk-in centres instead to avoid the pressures on everyone going to one emergency department.

“We are a city, and we deserve to have a city that has a decent health offering.”

Earlier this week MP Anna Firth thanked the Health Secretary for visiting the hospital and seeing how Southend’s “inspirational NHS staff” were putting the emergency village plans in place.

Previously the trust told the Echo: “ The scheme is an important, much-needed modernisation project, that is vital to help us develop a better and more efficient department.”