MALDON residents were out in full force as the consultation deciding the fate of St Peter’s Hospital continues.
A potential NHS shake-up could see maternity and stroke services at St Peter’s moved further afield permanently.
Campaign group Save Maldon’s Medical Services formed to fight the closure threat to the hospital and demanded a public meeting to express their views.
The group came together on Maldon High Street on February 25 to protest.
Hundreds turned out to the meeting at Plume Academy on February 9, which was attended by Maldon’s MP Sir John Whittingdale, mayor Andrew Lay and NHS representatives.
Les Flack, a Dengie resident who attended the protest, said he thought the day went well.
He is worried about what St Peter’s services moving would mean for his wife, who has COPD and would have a long journey.
Mr Flack said: “We had loads of good public engagement. It’s surprising how many people don’t even know about the public consultation.
“There’s a strong feeling of people wanting to keep the services there.
“Being in the town, you meet people who were born there.
“They want to keep it there and are very frustrated about how the consultation is going.”
He added: “Maintaining medical services in Maldon is absolutely key.
“However, no other site has been found in a suitable location.
“So why not have a Maldon health hub at the St Peters site, either by refurb and upgrade or by new build or better a combination of those approaches.”
Mr Flack said the town’s trade could be impacted by losing people coming to Maldon for healthcare.
He added: “St Peter's is care for the local community, we need that.
“We need the public to get involved in any way they can.”
Fellow campaigner Tim Olley said: “We’re trying to get people to complete the questionnaire that’s been published online and get their voices heard
“We spoke to quite a lot of people - we were out there for more than five hours
“Quite a lot of people knew about the potential closure of St Peter’s but not the full detail or that there was a survey.
“We spoke to people from South Woodham and Witham who are also potentially affected.
“It was well received by everybody."
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