Sir John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon, and Dame Priti Patel, MP for Witham, have met with Andrew Stephenson MP, Minister for Health and Secondary Care, and Helen Whately MP, Minister for Social Care, at the Department of Health to discuss the future of St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon. The meeting followed the debates in Parliament ten days ago on health care in Essex and on St Peter’s.
At the meeting, Sir John and Dame Priti set out the history of St Peter’s and the repeated pledges that have been made over 25 years to provide a new hospital. They stressed that instead of cutting local provision, it is essential that the existing range of services provided in Maldon be maintained and improved, particularly given the geographic size of the Maldon District and the rapidly growing population. They also made clear their lack of confidence in the Consultation process being carried out by the Mid and South Essex ICB. They called on Ministers to intervene by taking the decision away from the ICB and establishing an independent examiner to consider how best to deliver a new community hospital to provide the range of services needed. Both Ministers agreed to look at carefully at whatever conclusions are reached by the ICB and to make sure that before final decisions are reached, the Department is satisfied that the future health needs of the people of the Maldon District will be properly provided for.
Sir John Whittingdale said: “I have received a huge number of responses from constituents to my local survey which make clear their opposition to the proposals put forward by the ICB and their lack of confidence in the consultation process. I am grateful to the Ministers for their assurance that they will listen to these concerns and will look carefully at any final proposals before they are agreed.”
Dame Priti Patel said: ”St Peter’s is a much loved and vital community facility. We have seen significant growth and development in the Maldon district, and it is important that with new housing we protect, invest and enhance local services rather than see them removed. Both Sir John and I were clear with the Ministers on the need for a new community hospital in Maldon that will keep services together, and see real improvements delivered for local communities across the district.”
