Proposed closure of St Peters Hospital in Maldon under scrutiny
A public consultation regarding the potential closure of St Peter's hospital is due to start this week.
A public consultation regarding the potential closure of Maldon Hospital is due to start this week.
St Peter's Hospital has been open for 150-year years.
The proposal for closure is part of a plan by the NHS to reconfigure inpatient beds and optimize healthcare services across the region.
Outlined in the Pre-Consultation Business Case (PCBC), the proposal suggests relocating services from Maldon Hospital to better align with evolving community healthcare needs.
The hospital could potentially be put up for sale for £6.2million.
The PCBC details two options for the reconfiguration of intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation beds in community hospitals, along with plans to relocate the freestanding midwife-led birthing unit and shift ambulatory care services from St Peter's Hospital in Maldon.
The PCBC suggests creating a maternity outpatient 'hub' for Maldon, providing services locally, including consultant and midwife clinics, post-natal care, parenting, and ultrasound scanning.
But critics argue that relocating the midwife-led birthing unit would burden expectant parents with additional travel, requiring a 16-mile (26km) drive to Braintree or a 15-mile (24km) journey to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
The plan also proposes two options for reconfiguring 129 beds for patients in need of "intermediate" care and stroke rehabilitation. The overall goal is to increase the total number of beds to 138 across the remaining five community hospitals, with Brentwood Community Hospital receiving an additional 25 beds.
Public Consultation
The public consultation, set to run from January 25 to March 21, 2024, provides a platform for the community to express their views on the proposed changes. Various engagement methods, including surveys, face-to-face and online discussions, consultation hearings, and sector-led discussions, have been planned.
While the proposal is aligned with NHS England's guidelines, emphasizing public involvement, patient choice, clinical evidence, commissioner support, and effective management of bed numbers, the potential closure of a hospital with 150 years of history holds significance for the community.
Residents are therefore encouraged to participate actively in the consultation process, sharing their thoughts on how the proposed changes may impact healthcare access and services in the region.
The MSE Integrated Care Board will review and approve the PCBC, marking a moment in the potential transformation of healthcare services in Maldon.
Local Reaction
Leader of Maldon District Council, Cllr Richard Siddall, stated: “As a key local partner in helping to deliver an integrated care system, Maldon District Council will respond to the consultation as a consultee. Residents and service users will be given the opportunity to attend engagement events and to give their feedback on where and how services could be delivered locally and potentially make better use of the Public Sector estate across the whole of the mid and south Essex area. Our understanding is that consultation responses will inform a future business case that will set out potential delivery options and help to identify specific locations.
“Maldon District Council is keen to support the Mid Essex Alliance in ensuring services are accessible to residents and meet the demand of our community’s health needs. We will continue to discuss opportunities that enable the Council to help meet the challenges faced by the NHS and help to achieve better health and wellbeing outcomes, including the potential to locate services within the Council’s estate.”