A NHS trust looks likely to assume long-term control of Braintree Community Hospital.

It was announced on Monday that Mid Essex Hospital Trust (MEHT) would take over Serco’s contract for running services at the hospital from the start of next month.

The NHS trust already provides services at other Essex hospitals, including the majority of those at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Although the existing contract only runs until next March, MEHT chief executive Paul Forden has admitted the trust is interested in taking long-term control.

He said: “We would hope to be able to make arrangements to allow this to become a long-term solution in the not too distant future.”

See the Braintree Times for the full story