A DECISION on the future of the Grays Community Hospital project has been delayed.

NHS South West Essex announced in October that plans for the hospital were in doubt as it was being forced to make cuts of more than £52million.

Bosses were due to make a decision on the feasibilty of the project by the end of December, but the trust has yet to make its mind up.

Jonathan Marron, director of strategy and planning at NHS South West Essex, said the board is looking at ways to reduce the cost of the building.

He said: “As part of the financial recovery plan the Board of NHS South West Essex agreed that we needed to review the use of buildings and determine the NHS’ ability to fund some of the new buildings that have been proposed, like Grays Community Hospital.

“We need to make sure that both existing and new estates are, in the long term, both affordable and in the right place. This piece of work has not been concluded yet, but we are continuing to develop proposals for Grays Community Hospital. This involves looking at ways to reduce the cost of the building; ensuring that the scheme is affordable; working with local GPs to identify the services that they want to see in the community; and considering how we also make best use of our existing estate.”

The original plans for the hospital in 2008 would see the £40million facility built where the Rates Ford car dealership in Hogg Lane is now.

The 12,000 square metre development was set to be up to four storeys in height, with space for Royal Mail Delivery offices and Territorial Army cadets’ accommodation included.

It was hoped that the hospital would feature 25 intermediate care beds and be used as a primary care assessment and treatment centre with in-patient, day and community services, giving patients of borough GPs diagnostic treatment within 24 hours of seeing their doctor, opposed to current waiting times of up to 14 days.

The proposal also included 175 car parking spaces for the hospital and 92 spaces for cars at the Royal Mail offices and space for 26 operational vehicles.

The facility was expected to be operational by April 2012, and Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation have already paid £2million to acquire the land the former TA Centre was on in Brook Street.