Have your say on proposed changes to services at local community hospitals

Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) have launched an eight-week period of consultation about specific health services in mid and south Essex.

The local NHS in Essex 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.

The consultation is running from Thursday 25 January to Thursday 21 March 2024.

The proposals the ICS are asking people 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, 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.

How people can get involved

You can visit a dedicated engagement platform, MSE Virtual Views, to find out about the proposals and plans, to share your views, and ask questions, and find out more about the public engagement events taking place across Essex.

Over the next eight weeks, people can get involved by:

• Completing the online survey 
• Joining one of eight planned discussion groups being held across the region – in Maldon, Basildon, Chelmsford, Southend, Thurrock and Burnham on Crouch.
• Joining one of six online discussion sessions.
• Joining a public consultation hearing that we’re holding in Maldon. This is a formal event, and people will need to 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 to the ICS through their social media channels or at a drop-in event.
• Emailing: mseics.getinvolved@nhs.net
• Phoning: 01268 594350
• Writing to: FAO: Community Capacity Consultation NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, PO Box 6483, Basildon, SS14 0UG

To find out all of the event details visit MSE Virtual Views.