East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has chosen modern methods of construction specialist, MTX Contracts Ltd, to upgrade healthcare facilities at Clacton Hospital with the creation of a new urgent treatment centre (UTC).

The project is the latest phase in a multi-million-pound upgrade to ensure patients using Clacton Hospital receive high-quality healthcare in state-of-the-art surroundings, providing an improved experience in terms of both physical access to healthcare and the clinical environment.

Work has now started on demolishing parts of the existing UTC to make way for the two-storey extension to house the new unit.

Plans include nine consulting/examination rooms, a dedicated isolation room, three triage rooms, eye and plaster rooms, and a mental health consulting room.

A pre-fabricated rooftop room will enclose mechanical equipment serving the building, and ground-floor and first-floor walkways will link the new UTC into existing buildings which are due to be refurbished.

Naomi Palmer, project manager for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that Clacton Hospital is benefitting from such a significant investment.

“The work that has taken place so far has brought essential diagnostic services closer to home while vastly improving the environment in which our patients receive care.

“The next phase of this major project will see a new, easy-to-access UTC created, along with extra clinical spaces.

“The work has been planned carefully so that patients can continue to access these services throughout construction without the need to travel further afield.”

MTX managing director, David Hartley, added: “MTX has a proven track record in supporting NHS trusts in the delivery of vitally-needed new facilities and has extensive experience in delivering healthcare projects while ensuring minimum disruption to staff and patients on busy hospital sites.

“We have a long-standing relationship with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and are delighted to have been chosen to deliver this high-quality upgrade at Clacton Hospital faster, greener, safer, and more cost effectively using innovative and advanced modern methods of construction.”