Travel times and distance concerns have been raised by patients ahead of discussions to move forward with a multi-million pound elective centre.

Health bosses at Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk and North East Essex (SNEE) Integrated Care Board (ICB) will discuss the results of a recent public consultation to create a new Orthopaedic Elective Centre in Colchester.

The proposal is to move 60% of the surgeries from West Suffolk Hospital to the new centre in Colchester and reduce wait times by four weeks.

Suffolk County Council's Health Scrutiny Committee will sit on Wednesday, July 17 and make recommendations ahead of SNEE's meeting later this month. 

Of the 1,933 people consulted, 49 per cent responded positively to the plans, while around 35 per cent of respondees raised concerns.

59% of respondees waiting for orthopaedic care from West Suffolk Hospital were broadly positive about the plans.

Travel is the biggest issue for the patients.Travel is the biggest issue for the patients. (Image: MTX / ESNEFT)

This biggest issue for many was transportation to Colchester from Bury St Edmunds. 

There are currently no direct public transport links between the two towns, with people having to switch trains in Ipswich - and the whole journey takes nearly 1hr 20mins.

This led to 12 per cent of respondents saying they did not know how they would get to the centre, and many of them said they would not have a lift home. 

If accepted the new centre would open this summer, with a budget of £34m.

The original plan set out that the Colchester centre would contain six operating theatres and two wards, however on receiving further funding in July 2022, they expanded their plans to eight theatres and three wards. 

This would make it Europe's largest orthopaedic centre. 

The ICB will make a decision at a meeting on July 30.