On February 18, 2026, the Essex Caring Communities Commission released an update on plans to improve health and social care support in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, which aims to reduce the high number of emergency ambulance calls in the area. The group is working on 23 specific steps designed to help residents get the care they need earlier so they do not have to rely as much on emergency hospital visits.
By focusing on better community support and prevention, the project aims to lower the number of people needing crisis care. A new group called the Essex Leaders Group, which includes heads of the police and health services, will now take responsibility for making sure these improvements happen across the community.
As part of this work, the DigiGo on-demand transport service has been extended until July 2028. This service helps residents in Clacton and the surrounding district travel to health appointments and local support groups, which can help stop health problems from becoming emergencies.
Essex County Council originally started this work to find new ways to handle the rising demand for local services. A final version of the full action plan is expected to be published in May 2026, coinciding with wider changes to how the local government is run.
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