A new health centre is needed in Witham to help deal with “considerable population growth”, an MP has claimed.

Priti Patel says the facility, which has been proposed for several years now, is needed as soon as possible due to the growing demand on GPs in the town.

Ms Patel made the call following a debate in Parliament surrounding the Government’s plan to pump £33.9billion into the NHS.

The Tory was assured by Health Secretary Matt Hancock the money would be spent across all services, and not just GPs.

Speaking at the end of the debate, Ms Patel said: “Across the Witham constituency we are seeing pressures on primary care with the numbers of patients per GP being amongst the highest in the country.

"New investment from the Government is welcome but the funding needs to come to this part of Essex where it is needed.

“We are experiencing considerable population growth locally and new health services are needed to support growing demand.

“Work is progressing on developing a new multi-purpose healthcare centre in Witham and I am pressing the NHS and local GPs to deliver this important new facility, as soon as possible.

“This centre will be one important step in providing new and better health services for local residents but the Government must ensure that more GPs are available locally.

"I previously helped secure investment in GP training places at Anglia Ruskin University and the Government needs to ensure that those who train in Essex work in our communities in the future.”

A super-surgery would likely become home to most, if not all, GP practices in Witham once built.

Back in 2017, it was revealed Newlands Shopping Centre was the preferred location for the health centre.

Discussions have taken place for several years, but no formal business plan has been drawn up for the surgery.

Speaking earlier this year, Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) chairman Dr Anna Davey said the health centre would be delivered in phases and would help address the need for more GPs due to housing growth.