A SHAKE-UP to A&E services in mid Essex will be “unachievable” without more funding, a leading medical union has said.

Plans by the Mid and South Essex Success Regime could see one of three hospitals having a full 24-hour emergency service.

This could be at either Basildon, Southend or Broomfield hospitals, with the two remaining hospitals’ services scaled back.

An investigation by the British Medical Association found at least £9.5 billion was needed across the country to deliver sustainability and transformation plans.

The association claims in mid and south Essex £449.5 million in capital funding would be needed in order to deliver their ‘transformation’ plans.

However this was disputed by NHS England who said the submission by the Essex Success Regime in October 2016 only amounted to £115 million.

Dr Ian Hume, BMA Eastern regional chairman, said: “The reality of what is needed to implement “transformation” plans is unachievable if the government does not provide the long-term investment desperately needed.

“The plans are fast becoming completely unworkable and have instead revealed a health service that is unsustainable without urgent further investment, and with little capacity to ‘transform’ in any meaningful way other than by reducing the provision of services on a drastic scale.”

Andrew Pike, Director of Commissioning Operations, NHS England, said: “The capital funding required for system changes in the Mid and South Essex STP was estimated in the October 2016 STP submission at just over £115 million.

“There is a very strong case for change in mid and south Essex, which is why the area is one of only three in the country to be designated a “success regime”.

“There are increasing demands on GPs and A&E services, which are proving challenging to sustaining the current services. There is huge potential to provide better joined up care for people at home and in the community, and better specialist care with the three main hospitals working together.

“Clinicians and local people have done some impressive work over the last six months to develop options for change.”