PLANS to cut A&E admissions at Colchester General Hospital by 10 per cent have been unveiled.

NHS bosses say a growing and ageing population means north Essex’s emergency care system “cannot continue”.

It comes days after we revealed Colchester General Hospital’s A&E department missed its treatment target for three consecutive months.

The plan includes:

* Building an urgent care centre at the front of the A&E department to sift out patients in a non-serious condition

* Extending GP opening hours from 8am until 8pm

* GPs offering more phone consultations, Skype appointments and online booking

For a special report, see Tuesday's Gazette