GP surgeries in Witham could move into a new healthcare centre in the town, it has emerged.

Health bosses met with Braintree Council on Monday to discuss health in the district.

Witham Town Mayor Patrick Horner, who attended the meeting, said town doctors who were previously reticent to work together now agreed that was the best way forward.

The NHS and Braintree Council are looking at creating at least one ‘health hub’ in the town, potentially in Maltings Lane, where care services could be centralised.

Mr Horner said the support of GPs was a “revelation”.

He said: “The Witham doctors are very independent but they are starting to see they could do better by working together.

“About three years ago they were adamant they didn’t want to work together. It’s quite a novel idea and the health service is really keen on this. It’s things like having difficulty getting to hospital that have made doctors realise they should work together. “

Mr Horner added: “There is a site for medical use at Maltings Lane which the health service said they would never invest in as Witham is too small.

“Now they have said they agree with the idea. A few years ago you couldn’t attract a single medical person to these meetings, but now they are keen to work with local councils.”

The overview and scrutiny committee at Braintree Council made recommendations to Cabinet on Monday.

Its report said: “Braintree District Council needs to recognise the traditional small GP practice model which is prevalent in our district is going to struggle with the projected increase in the population and the proposed seven day per week working practice, and therefore support the local NHS in the investment in of new larger ‘health hubs’ in the district.”

Jo Beavis, councillor responsible for health, said: “The concept of the creation of Health Hubs in Witham is at an early stage, but the council is extremely encouraged that all the parties involved are working together to identify sites within Witham for new purpose built medical facilities which should better serve the health needs of the residents of Witham and act to attract new GP’s in to our district.”

Angela Kilmartin, a health writer who sits on the town’s health committee, said: “I think circumstances have caught up with GPs and they are all now realising there is going to be hundreds of new homes with hundreds of new patients.

“I think a larger premises and greater number of doctors is needed – GPs have come together in a new spirit dictated by the times we live in and this is a good thing.”

Witham GPs did not respond to requests for comment.