I welcome the decision of the NHS Mid and South Essex ICB to maintain out patient services at St Peter’s Hospital for up to five years while progressing plans for a new health hub. This is a clear recognition that Maldon needs its own community health facilities, as was recommended by the Community Consultation Working Group and the consultation that I conducted including by organising a public meeting in Maldon attended by over 400 people. I will now continue to work with the ICB and other groups to identify the funding package needed for a permanent new health facility on the St Peter’s site.

While pre- and post-natal services will continue to be available at St Peter’s, I am disappointed that it has been confirmed that the birthing unit will be moved to Braintree. This will mean that mothers from the furthest areas in the Dengie Peninsula face a journey of up to an hour to get to Broomfield or Braintree to give birth. As the population served by St Peter’s continues to grow, I hope that this decision can be looked at again when it comes to plans for the new facility as can the provision of beds for intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation.

I am delighted that as a result of the combined voices of so many in the local community, we have succeeded in reversing the original decision to close the hospital. There is now a lot of work to do to address the defects in the existing building and to organise funding for a new one. However, I am confident that working with the NHS, the local authorities and the private sector this can be achieved.