In a debate in the House of Commons on Thursday (March 14), Maldon MP John Whittingdale and Witham MP Priti Patel joined forces to bring the proposed St Peter's Hospital closure to centre stage.

The debate began at 5pm, with Sir John Whittingdale MP standing up in a speech to the house regarding the issues in healthcare provision in Maldon.

He spoke about the community backlash to the proposal, with 2,600 surveys returned already.

Sir John told the house: "It is already clear that my constituents are unanimous in wanting to see medical services continue in the town. They also believe that the consultation is a cosmetic exercise, with decisions already taken."

He added that this belief is "reinforced" by the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Boards' lack of option to keep in-patient beds in the District.

"Is there an Option C?" - Burnham Resident at the consultation meeting in Burnham-on-Crouch on March 6

Sir John outlined the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust proposal to the house, before focusing on the broken promises of a new health centre in Maldon: "In 2003, the annual report of the Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust stated that two preferred sites [for a new community health centre] had been identified and that the new build was scheduled to open at some time towards the end of 2007.

"It never happened.

"Most recently, plans were being drawn up for a new site to be developed to the west of Maldon, on Wycke Hill. 

"However, this proposal became stuck due to the lack of sufficient funding."

He also adds that proposals to move ambulatory services to different locations across the District are "not good enough" - reiterating the need for a new health hub in Maldon.

"I ask the [Health] minister to tell the Mid and South Essex ICB to think again."

A representative from the Mid and South Essex ICB told Nub News in a public meeting on March 6 that they understood frustrations, repeating the function of the consultation in making any decisions on their end.

You can respond to the consultation, here.