MTX Contracts, the main contractor appointed by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), has begun digging foundations for a new two-storey Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) after demolishing the former facility.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust announced in November 2024 that MTX was chosen for the Urgent Treatment Centre project.
The project also involves Austin Heating Services, with funding contributions from ESNEFT, NHS England, NHS Property Services, Tendring District Council, and the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB).
The new UTC is being built using modern methods of construction. This includes the off-site manufacture of 51 structural steel modules, which will be craned into position during May.
The new UTC is being built using modern methods of construction
This modular approach is designed to deliver a faster, safer, greener, and more cost-effective build.
Once completed, the UTC will offer a modern, accessible environment for patients seeking urgent treatment for minor illnesses and injuries such as fractures, burns, and trauma wounds.
The centre will also be directly connected to the recently refurbished Kate Grant and Jubilee buildings, enhancing patient flow and operational efficiency.
An external corridor linking the UTC to the hospital’s new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is also taking shape.
This includes the off-site manufacture of 51 structural steel modules
The CDC, which opened in 2023, has already brought vital diagnostic services such as CT scans, blood testing, and lung function assessments closer to home for residents.
In addition, work on a new maternity birthing suite at the hospital is nearing completion and is scheduled to open in late April, further enhancing healthcare provision in the area.
This significant programme of works forms part of ESNEFT’s wider plans to improve, extend, and modernise healthcare services at Clacton Hospital, ensuring local people can access high-quality care in state-of-the-art surroundings.
Laura Taylor-Green, the ICB’s North East Essex Alliance Director, said: “Clacton Hospital is such an important part of the Tendring community, and we are pleased to support its further expansion and upgrading.
“Since the last century, the hospital has been caring for local people, and this investment will give it a big boost and ensure it long continues to help keep people healthy.”
Top image: The project is being led by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
