Since a promised £20 million community hospital in 2002 had a U-turn in plans, there have been a number of failed attempts to secure a new community health hub in Maldon.

Now new proposals by the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board mean all in-patient services may be moved from the town, with potential new ambulatory service locations yet to be announced.

In a debate on Health and Wellbeing services in Essex on Tuesday 12, 2024, Maldon MP John Whittingdale said: "In all the time that I have represented the area, we have been debating a replacement [community hospital].

"We have come very close a number of times, but each time it has never quite happened."

"We have been debating whether to refurbish or relocate it for all these years, but we reached the point where it is now proposed that the hospital is closed and services are moved to other locations far from my constituency."

Planning documents from 2002, all the way up to most recently 2016, highlight attempts to realise calls for a new health centre.

The 2002 consultation proposed for there to be a new Greenfield site development in Maldon, which would replace the existing 'ageing' Spital Road Hospital. 

The consultation proposed inpatient wards, maternity services, and a range of ambulatory services. 

Maldon Nub News have received a tip-off that by 2006, the project may have already exceeded £210,000 in admin costs.

Ten years later, the new community hospital development plans were given a cash boost. 

Since then, developments in the project have been unclear.

Maldon Nub News has reached out to the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System for comment.