A Draft public consultation report, published by the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board on July 10, has highlighted the swathes of negative feedback given by Maldon residents on a proposal to relocate hospital services from St Peter's Hospital.

The report details the feedback the NHS ICB received during the community capacity consultation, which ran from January to April 2024.

The consultation sought to receive feedback on a pre-consultation business case made by the ICB in January 2024, which detailed the relocation of St Peter's midwife-led birthing unit to Braintree, relocation of ambulatory services and gave two options for the relocate of Maldon's stroke rehabilitation beds to across Essex.

If the plan is approved, this would result in the permanent closure of the 150-year-old hospital. 

Over 5,500 responded to the survey offered by the Integrated Care System, with 71% of respondents being from the Maldon area.

An additional 1,108 responses were recorded through the independent survey Maldon MP, Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale, released.

The feedback shown in the draft report summarises an entirely negative outlook by respondents on the plans, with all three of the areas proposed being described as "poor" or "very poor" options by the majority of respondents.

The Key findings in the document read: "There is widespread objection to both sets of consultation proposals and to the idea of moving other services out of St Peter's Hospital in Maldon. The main proposals cited include:

• The burden of extra travel time and costs the proposals would place of patients, families and carers, and its impact on the environment.
• How the potential closure of St Peter's Hospital in Maldon without a replacement facility would leave the health needs of residents in Maldon and the wider mid and south Essex population unmet.

"Where support was expressed, it tends to be limited and qualified, and in some cases caveated.

"There was a strong feeling that decisions about the future of these services, the other services at St Peter's Hospital, and the closure of the facility have already been made, with concern that the views expressed during the consultation activity would not be taken into account."

Comments made during the consultation process: 

• Respondents perceived a poor promotion of the consultation leading to lack of awareness of proposals
• Materials were described by respondents as difficult to understand
• Calls were made for more transparency and genuine consideration of local health needs
• The view was commonly expressed that the decision has already been made
• Time for responses called inadequate

Dr Matt Sweeting, Executive Medical Director for NHS Mid and South Essex said: "We would like to thank the thousands of people who took the time to give their views during our public consultation.  

"We want to make sure we have considered all views and suggestions on any alternative service models that may have been suggested through the public consultation.  

"People who provided feedback now have an opportunity to review the consultation report to ensure it reflects what they have said, as it is very important that we have this information available to us when we come to make our decision about the future of the community and midwifery services across mid and south Essex." 

An online feedback session has been organised to take place on July 18 at 6.30 pm, where people can hear directly from the independent analysts who drafted the report. 

Feedback on the consultation report should be provided to [email protected] or by writing to Stand, Enterprise House, Barnard Castle DL12 8XT, by July 31, 2024.

The feedback received during the consultation will inform the decision-making process, which will be presented at an extraordinary Mid and South Essex ICB Board meeting.

This meeting is scheduled to take place as a meeting in public on 30 September 2024. Further information about this meeting will be available on the NHS Mid and South Essex website.