A HEALTH boss says a shake-up of how NHS services are delivered in Maldon will benefit patients.
A consultation is currently being held to look at birthing, rehabilitation and outpatient services at St Peter's Hospital.
Dr Matthew Sweeting, who is interim medical director at Mid and South Essex ICB and a consultant geriatrician at Broomfield Hospital, told the Standard that the consultation aims to improve services and sustain them for the future.
He said: “There are challenges at the Maldon St Peter's site, particularly from an estate point of view, but I have to stress that this is a consultation we're looking for our local public to engage in, particularly those in the Maldon area to give us their views.”
Dr Sweeting said temporary changes happened for quality and safety reasons.
“The stroke beds that were at St Peter's have temporarily moved to Brentwood and the maternity unit that was at St Peter's has temporarily moved to the Braintree site," he said.
“I stress that's temporary while this consultation is underway to look for permanent solutions.
“We want to ensure that our bed-based rehabilitation units are the most effective."
This includes consolidating stroke services to attract staff to provide high quality care in the future.
Dr Sweeting said he had heard from "lots of people" who had their children at St Peter's.
And he insisted there is a commitment to local maternity services in the consultation paper for that reason.
This includes being committed to keeping antenatal clinics and midwifery appointments in the Maldon area.
Dr Sweeting said: “Probably about 500 of our residents across the whole of Mid and South Essex will need some form of intermediate bed - so stroke rehab beds."
He said patients would need a period of rehabilitation after having an acute stroke.
Dr Sweeting also discussed how staff at St Peter’s would be impacted if the hospital were to close.
He said they were the "most precious resource" and many had provided care in Maldon for many years.
"They've had their children there, they've been treated there themselves," he said.
"Our providers have been working closely with our staff to minimise any disruption to ensure that the jobs that come up in the future can still accommodate them as well.
Dr Sweeting said the NHS was not looking for job losses or people leave their roles.
He said: “We are working to redistribute the workforce where it is needed and to provide safe, high quality services for the future.”
Dr Sweeting identified outpatient and ambulatory services as "the biggest chunk" of care delivered in Maldon.
He said a decision will be made after the consultation period closes.
All information is available on the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board’s website www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk or on their digital engagement platform www.virtualviews.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/changes-to-services
There will be another information stand at Blackwater Leisure Centre on February 22 and a public consultation hearing in the town hall on March 19.
Hard copies of the consultation document will be available in Maldon and Burnham libraries.
Podcasts created by NHS Mid and South Essex concerning the consultation can be heard at https://nhsmidandsouthessex.podbean.com/
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