MEMBERS of the public have been urged to have their say on proposed changes to services at community hospitals in the area.

An eight-week consultation about health services in mid and south Essex started last week.

The NHS is seeking views over future arrangements for inpatient services at community hospitals and a freestanding midwife-led birthing unit.

In addition, it will cover other services provided at St Peter’s Hospital, in Maldon.

The consultation will run from January 25 to March 21.

The proposals being looked at are:

● Potential changes to the places where some community hospital intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation services are provided.

● Making permanent the 'temporary' move of the freestanding midwife-led birthing unit from St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, to the William Julien Courtauld Unit at St Michael’s, Braintree.

● The possibility of moving all other patient services at St Peter’s Hospital, to other locations, mostly in and around Maldon.

Dr Matthew Sweeting, interim system medical director for the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “It is essential that we are thinking about how services can best serve our growing population, now and in the future. 

“We want to make sure everyone can receive the care they need in a safe environment, staffed by a highly skilled workforce, so that everyone has the best chance of a good health outcome.

“Our clinical teams have been developing different proposals around these services so that we can openly share information through a wide public consultation.

“It’s important we involve people in any decisions that might affect them. We’re a long way from making decisions. Getting feedback from local people is vital.

“We are keen to explain to local people the challenges we have been facing, and the different ways we think we could make services better.

"These are not easy decisions. We want to have as much information as possible and to explore all possibilities.”

People can visit a dedicated engagement platform called MSE Virtual Views to find out about proposals and plans, share their views and ask questions. It can be found at https://virtualviews.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/changes-to-services.

Throughout the next eight weeks, people can get involved by completing a survey, joining one of six online discussion sessions or joining one of eight planned discussion groups in Maldon, Burnham on Crouch, Basildon, Chelmsford, Southend and Thurrock.

People can also attend a meeting in Maldon, where questions must be submitted in advance.