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NHS beds in the community “already full”

NHS beds in the community – intended to ease pressure on hospitals – are already full across mid and south Essex ahead of the winter season as medics brace themselves for potential surge in Covid cases and flu.

NHS blood test tube shortage: Doctors ‘facing difficult choices’

GPs are having to make difficult choices about which patients get blood tests because of the ongoing shortage of test tubes, doctors are warning.

NHS 111 helpline needs another 70,000 GP slots every month to keep up with demand

THE NHS 111 helpline needs another 70,000 GP slots every month to keep up with demand, south Essex NHS bosses have been told.

Concerns at “violent and unsafe” conditions at Chelmsford prison

“VIOLENT” and “unsafe” conditions at a men’s prison in Essex have prompted urgent calls for action as standards “declined disturbingly” over the last decade. A...

Hire UK workers to drive lorries, minister tells firms

BUSINESSES have been told to prioritise hiring UK-based workers rather than relying on labour from abroad to fix a shortage of lorry drivers reports the BBC.

Government to ban single-use plastic cutlery

THE government has announced plans to ban single-use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups in England as part of what it calls a “war...

Grays councillors call for Kilverts Field to be given ‘Green Space Designation’

GRAYS Riverside Councillors Martin Kerin, Jane Pothecary and Tony Fish have today applied for Kilverts Field in Grays to be given 'Green Space Designation' in recognition of its importance to the local community.

Contactless card limit to rise to £100 in October

THE spending limit on each use of a contactless card is to rise from £45 to £100 from 15 October, banks have revealed reports...

Cancer treatment waiting times have been hit by the Covid pandemic.

CANCER treatment waiting times have been hit by the Covid pandemic.

Essex Police squad set up to investigate non-recent child sexual abuse cases

Long-term effects can include mental health issues, problems with addiction and struggles with relationships and parenting.

Notice of clinical commissioning group AGMs

THE five NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) across mid and south Essex will be hosting their Annual General Meetings (AGM) throughout September.

Ambulance service to draw support from military and fire and rescue over winter

THE East of England ambulance service will be “drawing on support from partners within the military and fire and rescue” to help mitigate an anticipated “very busy” winter period.

Concerns over high level of smoking in Thurrock

THURROCK has one of the highest levels of tobacco smoking in the UK, it has been revealed.

Iceland supermarket boss sounds alarm over Christmas supplies

THE boss of supermarket Iceland says the supply chain chaos is getting worse, just as retailers start planning for the key Christmas period reports the BBC.

Grays IT company launch international cartoon competition

A THURROCK-based IT company has organised an international cartoon contest where the task was to "express the IT and Technology issues in today's business environment.

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