Maldon MP addresses temporary closure of St Peters hospital

Sir John Whittingdale says changes to the community hospital “reflect immediate needs of the service” and are “necessarily temporary in nature and affect only inpatient provision”.

Many services will continue to be provided by St Peter's, including outpatient services such as diagnostics, screening and maternity appointments.

The MP said these services “overwhelmingly serve the local population and will still be provided from St Peter's”.

He previously led a campaign against the closure of the maternity unit in Maldon and stressed its “long history of serving the population of Maldon”.

Love: signs left outside St Peters Hospital (Image: Geoff Dickman)

The birthing unit is said to see an average of six births a month.

Sir John said: “We need to increase the number of inpatient community rehabilitation beds for people recovering after a spell in hospital, particularly after a stroke.

“Bayman Ward at Brentwood Community Hospital will provide 25 beds in modern, high-quality accommodation.

“These will replace the 16 beds at St Peter's, which are currently used for patients from across mid Essex with less than a fifth from Maldon.

“In the longer term, we need new health facilities in the district. St Peter's was built as a workhouse in 1872 and the building has deteriorated badly in recent years.

“Having recently visited a friend in one of the wards, I know that the care offered by the staff is superb, but the conditions mean that it will become impossible to sustain a safe and high-quality service.

Signs: many members of the public oppose to the temporary closure of the hospital (Image: Geoff Dickman)

“Therefore, a decision has also been taken to relocate the birthing unit to the William Julien Courtauld birthing unit in Braintree, which offers modern, purpose-built facilities for midwife-led births.

“Maternity outpatient appointments will continue at St Peter's, but people wanting to give birth in a midwifery-led unit will use the WJC or Broomfield Hospital, or can be offered a choice of a home birth where clinically appropriate.

“Before any permanent decisions are taken about these and other services, there has to be a full public consultation.

“At the same time, plans for new facilities are in train. A new GP health centre in Heybridge will provide considerable extra space for both existing practices and Longfield Surgery will also be expanded on its present site.

“I will also continue to work with the local NHS, Essex County Council and Maldon District Council to bring about a brand new health hub to which Blackwater Surgery can relocate and which will provide the range of services for the local population currently provided from St Peter's.

“I am determined that these developments should give the people of Maldon district the modern and high-quality health facilities which they so badly need and that which I have campaigned for a long time.”