An 8-week public consultation is underway about specific health services in mid and south Essex.

The local NHS is seeking views and ideas on proposals for future arrangements for inpatient services at community hospitals, freestanding midwife-led birthing unit, and other patient services provided at St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon.

A new drop-in session has been added to the list of public events where people can come and find out more about the proposals and give their feedback. The new event will take place on Friday 1 March from 10am – 12noon at Brentwood Community Hospital, Crescent Drive, Shenfield, Brentwood CM15 8DR.

People can turn up and find out more about the options and have an opportunity to feedback their thoughts. Where possible, people are urged to use public transport, with Brentwood Community Transport providing bus service 808 to and from the hospital.

The consultation runs from 25 January to 21 March 2024. 

Over 1,000 survey responses have been received so far on the virtual views website, as well as feedback received via online and face-to-face events arranged so far.

The proposals to consider are:

• potential changes to the places where we provide some community hospital intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation services,
• making permanent the temporary move of the freestanding midwife-led birthing unit from St Peter’s Hospital to, 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, Maldon to other locations, mostly in and around Maldon.

Dr Matthew Sweeting, Interim System Medical Director for 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. 

"It is important that we hear from people from across mid and south Essex.  I hope the new event will encourage people living in Brentwood to find out more and share their feedback.  We’re a long way from making decisions. Getting feedback from local people is vital"

“There are lots of ways people can share their thoughts about the proposals and contribute their views.  I would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”

How people can get involved

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

Over the remaining weeks, people can get involved by:

• Completing a survey on virtual views
• Joining a planned discussion group being held across the region.
• Joining an online discussion session.
• Joining a public consultation hearing that we’re holding in Maldon. This is a formal event, and people must submit their questions in advance.
• Joining a session being run by a voluntary sector organisation. These sessions are for people that might find it difficult to attend one of the other public events, and/or for people that need extra support to understand the proposals and share their views.
• Talking through social media channels or at a drop-in event.
• Emailing at: mseics.getinvolved@nhs.net
• Phoning at: 01268 594350
• Writing to: FAO: Community Capacity Consultation NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, PO Box 6483, Basildon, SS14 0UG

All events will be promoted through MSE Virtual Views, local media, websites, social media channels, and through local NHS partners and community organisations.