Additional means of transport will not be provided to help patients travel from east Suffolk to the new orthopaedic centre in Colchester when it opens.

Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre (ESEOC) is a new £34m state-of-the-art orthopaedic ward which is due to open in Colchester next month. 

With eight theatres and three wards, it is expected to be Europe's largest orthopaedic centre and will be run by East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

However, questions have been raised over how patients from east Suffolk, such as Ipswich and Felixstowe, will be able to get to Colchester for treatment.

Inga Lockington raised concerns over transportation at the last board meeting. Inga Lockington raised concerns over transportation at the last board meeting. (Image: Newsquest)

Inga Lockington, a Suffolk county councillor and Ipswich Borough councillor, raised these concerns during the hospital trust's last board meeting. 

She said: "For the elective centre opening in Colchester, we had talked about people looking into transport. 

"That there should be a special group of councillors working with the hospital to look at transport, but I do not think that's ever happened.

"Given the concerns we now get from West Suffolk, it might be useful to look into transport."

She said there were patients in her ward who had been waiting for 65 weeks and needed surgery but were unable to get to Colchester. 

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However, Shane Gordon, Director of Strategy, Research and Innovation, a survey conducted by Healthwatch Suffolk indicated a vast majority of patients had their own transport or would be able to get a lift from neighbours or friends. 

"Although it is very important to look out for those people that rely on public transport, they were a relatively small group," he added. 

Dr Gordon also said patients would be able to use the hospital service which is already available to get from Ipswich to Colchester. 

He also added that the trust was happy to work with the county council to explore other means of transportation. 

The new centre will be the largest in Europe.The new centre will be the largest in Europe. (Image: MTX / ESNEFT)

In July, it was agreed that 60 per cent of orthopaedic surgery will be moved from West Suffolk Hospital to Colchester.

Suffolk and North East Essex (SNEE) Integrated Care Board (ICB) is currently looking at ways in which they can provide transportation from Bury St Edmunds to Colchester.