Essex MPs are calling for an "urgent" meeting with Government ministers and the Secretary of State of Health and Social Care over plans to shut Maldon's St Peter's Hospital.

John Whittingdale, Tory MP for Maldon, and Dame Priti Patel, MP for Witham, have raised concerns about the plans by the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board to shut St Peter's Hospital in Maldon and move services to other parts of the country. 

The letter to Wes Streeting, the new Labour Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, urges the Government to look into the plans and consultation results.

The letter reads: "For over 20 years, the local NHS has promised a new community hospital for Maldon either on the St Peter's site or at a new location in the town...

"The current proposal that services should be moved to Braintree, Broomfield, and Brentwood has caused widespread anger. This was born out by the response to the consultation in which 5,400 people took part and which showed very strong opposition to the loss of any services from Maldon...

"We would therefore be grateful if you and your department would continue to engage constructively with us on this matter and follow through on the commitment given to look at the conclusion reached by the ICS. It is vital that action is taken to ensure that access to much-needed healthcare services is reached in the Maldon district, with appropriate put in place for both the shorter and longer term. We therefore ask for an urgent meeting with you and your ministers."

It comes after thousands of furious residents have slammed plans to close an Essex hospital and transfer services to other sites across the county, a health board meeting was previously told. 

At a meeting last month, residents told health bosses that proposals to close St Peter's Hospital in Maldon were a "bad or very bad idea".

The consultation ran from January 25 until April 11 and more than 5,400 took part with most of those commenting on the plans for St Peter's Hospital. 

A spokesman for the ICB said: "No decision has yet been made following the outcome of the community hospital services consultation.

"A draft report of the feedback received has been presented to NHS Mid and South Essex, and people have been invited to review the report to make sure it accurately reflects the feedback they provided during the consultation.

"The deadline to provide feedback is July 31. Further information including details of how to provide feedback on the draft report are available.

"The feedback received during the consultation will be used to inform the decision-making process alongside clinical and financial considerations, which will be presented at an extraordinary Mid and South Essex ICB Board meeting on September 30."

Edited by Chloe Brewster