AN action group set up to fight the closure threat to St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon have spoken of their anger at the building “falling into disrepair”.

Save Maldon’s Medical Services (SMMS) aims to highlight the need to take part in the ongoing NHS consultation.

If the St Peter's closure goes ahead, patients in the Maldon district would have to travel further afield for maternity care or to access a stroke unit.

Members of the SMMS group demanded a public meeting to express their views.

The meeting, which took place at Plume Academy on February 9, came about after members of SMMS realised Maldon town had been omitted in planned consultation meetings.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Overfilled - Many people were unable to enter Plume Academy due to capacity being reachedOverfilled - Many people were unable to enter Plume Academy due to capacity being reached (Image: Bob Goodall)

Temporary service changes at the hospital have included transferring the 16 stroke rehabilitation beds at St Peter’s to the Bayman Ward at Brentwood Community Hospital, increasing capacity there to 25 stroke rehabilitation beds.

More than 400 people attended the meeting at Plume Academy, with more than one hundred more unable to get in on the night.

Residents questioned a panel including NHS integrated care board bosses Dr Matthew Sweeting, chief executive Tracey Dowling, and head of midwifery Deborah Goldsmith, as well as MP Sir John Whittingdale and district council leader Richard Siddall.

A spokesman for the group said: “There was anger that after 30 years of being promised firstly a new hospital, then a health centre and latterly a health hub they were now getting nothing at all.

“Patients feel changes would put them in danger. Longer waits for beds to be available, more bed-blocking in main hospitals, longer travel times and no thought given to how people access the new locations, especially from areas like the Dengie, by public transport. 

“The NHS trust has allowed St Peter’s to fall into disrepair, not the patients.”

They added: “Our two GP practices are overwhelmed, and with an above average older population and a growing number of younger families joining the town, there is a real need for more medical services not less.”

Information can also be found by following the Heybridge Forum at facebook.com/heybridgeforum.

For more information about SMMS, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/374552031982718.