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Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust provides healthcare services to around 370,000 people from Colchester and the surrounding area of north east Essex. In addition it provides radiotherapy and oncology services to a wider population of about 670,000 across north and mid-Essex.

Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, authorised Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust, to become an NHS foundation trust from 1 May 2008.

In 2007/08 the Trust employed 3,383 people, 86% of them directly involved in patient care.

The Trust's main acute hospital site, which was opened in 1984, is Colchester General Hospital. The Trust also owns Essex County Hospital in Colchester, which was opened in 1820 and has two wards used for oncology (cancer) patients. The Trust also provides services at Halstead Hospital. At Harwich and Clacton community hospitals, both managed by NHS North East Essex (the PCT) the Trust provides maternity, minor injury and outpatient services.