A GP surgery is hoping to carry out a major expansion after taking on an additional 2,000 patients to help meet demand in the community.

Jones Family Practice, on Southend Road, Hockley, is hoping to create seven new consulting rooms as well as construct new teaching and office facilities on the site.

The GP expansion plan has already been given the green light by Rochford Council and is now just waiting for the green light from the NHS so it can begin work.

Once full approval is given, it is hoped that construction will take less than a year to complete.

The practice has taken on an additional 2,000 patients in recent years and now is in desperate need of more space to help treat them.

Mark Francois, Rayleigh and Wickford Tory MP, visited the GP surgery this week to meet Professor Di Mahmoud and his team to discuss the plans for expansion.

The MP has thrown his support behind the plan and has urged the NHS to give the “greatly needed” expansion approval as soon as possible.

He said: “I campaigned to help expand local GP surgeries during the recent General Election, so I believe I have a clear mandate from my constituents to support this scheme. This extra capacity is greatly needed- and I hope to help persuade NHS bosses to give it the green light, so the work can begin.”

The work will see a major first floor extension carried out to create space for new consultancy rooms and extra facilities. Plans were approved by Rochford Council for the extension in July this year.