I would like to thank all my constituents who have sent in a response to my survey form either by email or post.
Since the announcement by Mid and South Essex NHS that they were considering closing St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon and relocating services elsewhere, I have taken a number of steps to oppose the closure and ensure the views of my constituents are heard loud and clear.
I have held a public meeting at the Plume Academy in Maldon, the largest public venue in the area whereby my constituents were able to put their views to NHS representatives. I held an adjournment debate in Parliament to emphasise the case to a Minister that Maldon health services must be retained locally in the town. Subsequently, I and Dame Priti Patel, MP for Witham, had a meeting with Andrew Stephenson MP, Minister for Health and Secondary Care, and Helen Whately MP, Minister for Social Care, at the Department of Health to discuss the Future of St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon. The meeting followed the debates in Parliament on Health Care in Essex and on St Peter’s.
At the meeting, we set out the history of St Peter’s and the repeated pledges that have been made over 25 years to provide a new hospital. We stressed that instead of cutting local provision, it is essential that the existing range of services provided in Maldon be maintained and improved, particularly given the geographic size of the Maldon District and the rapidly growing population.
I made particular mention of my lack of confidence in the Consultation process being carried out by the Mid and South Essex ICB and called on Ministers to intervene by taking the decision away from the ICB and establishing an independent examiner to consider how best to deliver a new community hospital to provide the range of services needed. Both Ministers agreed to look at carefully at whatever conclusions are reached by the ICB and to make sure that before final decisions are reached, the Department is satisfied that the future health needs of the people of the Maldon District will be properly provided for.
St Peter’s is a much loved and vital community facility. We have seen significant growth and development in the Maldon district, and it is important that with new housing we protect, invest and enhance local services rather than see them removed. Both Sir John and I were clear with the Ministers on the need for a new community hospital in Maldon that will keep services together, and see real improvements delivered for local communities across the district.
I have received a huge number of responses from constituents to my local survey which make clear their opposition to the proposals put forward by the ICB and their lack of confidence in the consultation process. Whilst I would have preferred that we were able to get this proposal scrapped immediately, I am grateful to the Ministers for their assurance that they will listen to these concerns and will look carefully at any final proposals before they are agreed.
