Chelmsford City Council is officially launching an innovative medical hub called the Purple Place in Chelmsford City Centre on Friday.

The project, a partnership of Chelmsford City Council, Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and Essex County Council, provides a safe place in Chelmsford High Street for anyone needing medical assistance whilst out on Friday and Saturday nights in the city.

The project has been operational for six weeks and has successfully treated 49 people for a range of injuries and alcohol related conditions.

The Purple Place provides a rapid assessment and care service and will ensure that its users only attend A&E and use ambulance services when there is an appropriate need.

This will help alleviate demand on emergency services from inappropriate self-referrals or for conditions where alternative care would be more effective.

Chelmsford City Council introduced the Late Night Levy in November 2014 as a way to improve the city’s night time economy and to help fund projects and initiatives that prevent and tackle alcohol related disorder, like the Purple Place.

All licensed premises selling alcohol after 1am will pay the levy and will contribute to an even safer night out in Chelmsford.

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Ian Grundy said, “This is an excellent example of partnership working which will make a positive impact within our City.

"Not only will businesses paying the levy benefit from the service once it is launched, it is expected to have an extremely positive impact on A&E waiting times and emergency services.”

Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Healthy Living Councillor Anne Brown, said, “Chelmsford has a vibrant and safe night time economy, which is endorsed by the Purple Flag accreditation scheme the city has been awarded.

"The Purple Place will strengthen our night time economy and ensure that if any issues arise at night it will be dealt with in an efficient and timely way, providing immediate care for our residents and visitors, supporting local businesses and relieving pressure from our emergency services.”

The launch coincides with Chelmsford’s announcement of its Purple Flag renewal and Purple Flag weekend endorsing the city as a safe and vibrant night out.

The reaccreditation process included a successful application to extend the Purple Flag area to include the Anglia Ruskin University site which is a first for the country.

Professor David Humber, Provost of the Chelmsford campus at Anglia Ruskin University, said: "We are delighted that Anglia Ruskin's Chelmsford campus has become the first in the UK to get Purple Flag status.

"We strive provide a secure environment for our students day and night and their safety is paramount to us.

"Many students will be in their first couple of weeks with us and will be reassured that we are working closely with Chelmsford City Council to ensure they can enjoy their evenings, whether enjoying what our campus has to offer or in the city as a whole."