Proposed closure of
St Peter’s Hospital
I am very much aware of the strength of feeling among many of my constituents about the proposal made by Mid and South Essex NHS that St Peter’s Hospital should close and services be relocated.
All the proposals are subject to consultation which runs until 21st March and I hope that all those affected will give their views. However, I am concerned that the official questionnaire contains some questions which are of no relevance while others do not allow the detailed comments which many want to submit. As there was not due to be a consultation meting in Maldon, I organised one to allow residents to hear directly from representatives of the NHS. Although I arranged to hold this in the largest available venue and some 400 attended, I am sorry that another 100 people were unable to get in.
I am therefore sending out my own survey (at the bottom of this introduction) and I would encourage you to respond so that your views can be heard. I have received assurance from the Chief Executive of the Integrated Care Board, which is running the official consultation, that any answers that I receive from constituents will be taken into account as part of the process.
The Mid and South Essex NHS proposal is that the intermediate care beds and stroke rehabilitation beds at St Peter’s should be relocated and that in future the midwife-led birthing unit will be based at Braintree. In addition, the outpatient services currently provided at St Peter’s will be provided from other locations in the town and once this has been established, St Peter’s will be permanently closed.
There can be no doubt that the loss of essential medical services such as maternity, outpatients, and stroke facilities from the town will make it far harder for many members of our community to access critical healthcare services. In particular, those needing maternity, stroke rehabilitation and intermediate care services and their families will face much longer travelling times. I do welcome the assurance that I have been given that outpatient services will continue at St Peter’ until alternative local provision is up and running. However, I know that many want to see them kept at St Peter’s.
With best wishes,
Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP
Member of Parliament for Maldon
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please complete the survey questions below and feel free to add any further comments about the consultation. Please do not use this form to comment on any other issue – these responses will be made available to Mid and South Essex NHS and will form part for the official consultation. If you wish to contact Sir John about any other issue please do so separately.
1. Are you aware of the proposal to close the existing maternity, stroke and outpatient facilities at St. Peter's Hospital? Yes/No
2. How often have you or your family members utilized services at St. Peter's Hospital? And how?
3. Which services should continue to be provided in Maldon? Do you have any comment on the reason for your answer.
4. If you or a member of your family needed maternity services, would you wish to use a midwife-led unit in Maldon? Yes/No
5. If you or a family member needed intermediate care or stroke rehabilitation, would you want this to be provided in Maldon? Yes/No
6. Should outpatient services continue to be made available on the St Peter’s site or could they be relocated to another repurposed site in the town?
7. Would you like to add any further comments?
email your reply to : john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk