11 The NHS South West Essex patch The PCT's operational area is divided in to what it describes as three ' localities'. These are coterminous with the three local authority areas it serves: the district of Basildon ( covering Basildon, Billericay and Wickford) in the east of the patch, the district of Brentwood across to the north and the unitary authority of Thurrock in the south of the patch, on the north shore of the River Thames. Population profile Demographics Basildon Brentwood Thurrock Population demographics - compared with Essex & UK Younger Older Younger Population Increasing Increasing Increasing Fastest growing population sector Older age group Older age group Older age group Working- age population Diminishing Slow growth Diminishing Diversity / affluence BME* community compared with UK average Small Small Small Life expectancy & mortality rates compared with UK average Similar & improving Better & stable Similar & improving Health Inequalities in locality Substantial Average Substantial Locality contains advantaged & deprived health areas Both & incl. travellers Few deprived Both * BME = black and minority ethnic

12 The PCT also works closely with Essex County Council through the Essex Partnership. Details of the Joint Needs Assessments for the South West Essex local authority areas can be downloaded from the Essex Partnership website at www. essexpartnership. org. uk Primary care, health centres and hospitals The population of South West Essex is served by: . Eighty two GPs practices; . Twenty health centres; . Local acute hospitals: Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS T rust Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; . Mental Health provision: South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; and . Community hospitals: Brentwood Community Hospital Mayflower House Orsett Hospital Thurrock Community Hospital. Brentwood is also well served by independent sector health providers. There is both a Spire Hospital ( formerly BUPA) and Nuffield Hospital within the town, an independent diagnostic centre and other private health providers.