Sir John Whittingdale and Mayor of Maldon, Cllr Andrew Lay, organised a meeting in Maldon Town Hall last week, with representatives of Mid and South Essex NHS, local Councillors, GPs and representatives of Patient Groups.
The meeting was arranged to discuss primary care within the constituency, and the pressure on the two GP surgeries in Maldon. Also discussed was the progress of establishing a Health Hub to replace St Peter’s hospital.
Following a productive meeting, John welcomes the assurance from leaders at NHS Mid Essex that action will be taken on these issues.
Some key takeaways:
- Currently the two GP practices in the town are members of different Primary Care networks, which is unsatisfactory. It was agreed that there needs to be a much closer collaboration between them.
- The NHS has said they will provide support to Blackwater Medical Centre to modernise and install new technology in order to make it easier for patients to contact the surgery for appointments.
- In time, it is intended that Blackwater will move into the new Health Hub, and Longfield will expand on its present site.
- Both Practices will also support the new Health Centre to be provided as part of the North Heybridge Garden Suburb development.
- This will provide residents of Maldon and Heybridge with three new Primary Care facilities as well as outpatient services being offered from the new Centre in place of St Peter’s.
John said:
“I am very much aware of the difficulties that residents of Maldon have in accessing primary care. Our 2 GP surgeries are under considerable pressure as a result of the growing population, inadequate facilities and difficulties in recruitment. However, it is unacceptable that patients should have to wait so long for appointments and that patient satisfaction levels at the Blackwater Medical Centre are the lowest in Essex. I also understand the frustration at the lack of progress in obtaining a new Health Hub to replace St Peter’s Hospital which is universally recognised as no longer fit for purpose
I very much welcome the assurance from the leaders of NHS Mid Essex that action will be taken on these issueIt is important that rapid progress is made to achieve this as patients have already had to wait far too long. The Chief Executive of the Integrated Care Board which oversees the NHS Mid Essex has promised to make this happen and I will continue to press him for action with a further meeting in due course”
Those who attended were:
Anthony Mac McKeever, Chief Executive of Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
Dan Doherty, Alliance Director NHS Mid and South Essex (attending remotely due to Covid)
Kate Butcher, NHS Mid and South Essex
Dr Mathew Sweeting, Clinical Director, Mid Essex Alliance
Stephanie Dawe, Chief Executive, Provide Health
Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP
Cllr Andrew Lay, Mayor of Maldon
Cllr Penny Channer, Leader Maldon District Council
Cllr Stephen Nunn, Vice Chair, Maldon District Council
Cllr Jane Fleming, Essex County Council
Cllr Christopher Swain, MDC
Cllr John Driver, Maldon Town Council
