A health watchdog has called attention to a physician and dentist shortage.
Locals inquire about access "almost every day," according to Healthwatch Southend.
In the region where there is a £46.4 million deficit, a new plan is being developed to enhance services for NHS primary healthcare.
Healthwatch's chief executive officer, Owen Richards, told the city council's Health and Wellbeing Board that "there are actual issues at the moment.".
Updates to GP access are required. There is a mention of a plan to increase access to general practitioners (GPs), but I feel like there is a bit of a gap there since we hear from locals almost daily about access to services, general practice, and dentistry. ".
The board was talking about the Mid and South Essex Joint Forward Plan, which has brought to light a number of significant issues with primary healthcare services.
Mr. Richards was also concerned that some patients were being left out of the benefits of digital technology: "There is a lot of emphasis on digital within the report that will help a lot of people - it will not help others.
There are references to improving access in the system's language, some of which may be made through digital channels, but we almost always seem to be more preoccupied with finding a fix than with the fact that access issues still exist. ".
The local NHS is in an unsustainable financial position, which is probably one of the driving forces enabling us to do things differently, according to Krishna Ramkhelawon, the council's director of public health.
"Prevention will be the key to progress, and some of the major issues raised here are being discussed with NHS colleagues.
"Some of the larger projects we're working on in the background include looking at investments in hospital services, reviewing our service restriction policies, and making sure everything is being done properly given the available resources.
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