THE area’s clinical commissioning group has been told it requires improvement in its annual performance rating.

Mid Essex CCG received its annual performance rating from NHS England last Friday.

The CCG, which plans and buys healthcare for more than 380,000 people in Braintree, Maldon and Chelmsford, received an overall outcome of requires improvement. CCGs were also assessed in three clinical priority areas - cancer, mental health and dementia - at the same time.

Mid Essex CCG received a rating of good for cancer and requires improvement against mental health and dementia.

Caroline Rassell, accountable officer for Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are pleased to have good outcomes for cancer and will continue to develop improved services for local people.

“Earlier this year, mid Essex became one of three areas to pilot a new way of working between GPs and hospitals, with the aim of improving early diagnosis of cancer and we will share learning from this in the next year.

“There have been challenges with provision of mental health services here in mid Essex.”

The report said 58.9 per cent of the estimated number of people with dementia have a recorded diagnosis.

It also said 77.2 per cent of patients with dementia had their care plan review in the last 12 months.

Only 39 per cent of people on the GP Learning Disability Register had received an annual health check.

Ms Rassell added: “However, following an external review of IAPT services earlier this year, we are now starting to see improvements in the numbers of people accessing services and recovery rates – these are now in line with national standards.

“Likewise, for dementia, we have been working with partners in health across Essex to secure ad- ditional investment in services including a new crisis support team due to begin in the autumn.”

There were 1,948 emergency admissions for urgent care sensitive conditions, per 100,000 population, and 85.6 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged from A&E within four hours.

Assessments for diabetes, learning disabilities and maternity are expected to follow later.