PATIENTS were given a talk on the new Urgent Treatment Centre set for Harwich's Fryatt Hospital.

Information was given at the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group patient party, which included a wildlife walk and talks.

About 60 people from Colchester and Tendring met at the Essex Wildlife Trust Headquarters at Abbotts Hall Farm, in Great Wigborough, on July 31.

They were told about the new Urgent Treatment Service, launching in autumn this year.

The Urgent Treatment Service Collaborative includes the CCG, Anglian Community Enterprise, GP Primary Choice, East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, the East of England Ambulance Service, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, and Care UK.

The collaborative is said to have brought all urgent care together and this includes new Urgent Treatment Centres at Colchester Hospital and Clacton Hospital, as well as the Urgent Treatment Centre - minor injuries only - at Fryatt Hospital, Harwich.

The Urgent Treatment Centre at Colchester Hospital will be built next to A&E and will replace the walk-in centre in Turner Road.

The Urgent Treatment Centre at Clacton Hospital will replace the current minor injuries unit but will remain on the same site.

The minor injuries treatment centre at Fryatt Hospital, Harwich, will continue to be available to assess and treat minor injuries and will also remain on the same site.

Patients were told that urgent minor injury services will typically treat problems such as suspected broken limbs, strains and sprains, cuts and grazes, bites and stings, scalds and burns, and minor head injuries.

Information was also given on the Wild Wellbeing project, which was handed £90,000 of funding from the CCG and is aimed at connecting youngsters with outdoor activities to improve their health and wellbeing, providing early intervention for mental health issues.

The Essex Wildlife Trust works with 20 schools in Tendring and Colchester, delivering eight week long programmes.

Pam Green, chief operating officer for North East Essex CCG, said: “We are delighted to fund the Wild Wellbeing project.

"One of our key priorities is to make sure that every child in north east Essex has the best start in life, and this project is a great opportunity to do that, especially with the increasing rate of mental health conditions in children.

"This is a wonderful way to involve all the family in helping to improve wellbeing.

"We are also proud of our partnership work with the Urgent Treatment Service Collaborative, bringing urgent care together to provide the right care for patients in the right place, at the right time."