Residents are "pleased" and "relieved" that an at-risk hospital has been saved from closure. St Peter's Hospital has been saved from full closure but  community stroke and intermediate care beds, specialist rehabilitation services and some maternity services will be relocated.

The announcement was made during a meeting of the Mid and South Essex integrated care board yesterday (Thursday, July 17).  Barbara Cox, 69, from Maldon said: "I am very pleased about the decision, I am especially pleased that some maternity services will be kept here.

"It must be such a relief to pregnant women who will not have to travel further away for their medical appointments. I was very worried about the potential of the hospital closing down completely. It's so important to the people of Maldon that we keep services like this in our town. It is a shame about some of the services relocating, which I am sure will affect people living here." 

Claire Potter, 35, from Maldon, who is 28 weeks pregnant, said: "I am very relieved, and it's quite a lot and weight off my mind to be honest. I was starting to worry about having to go further out for maternity services.

"I have had various appointments here in Maldon so I am very pleased I can continue to do so. I know other expectant mothers who also feel the same as me. While it would have been easier for pregnant women, like me, if all maternity services were kept here in Maldon, what we have got is better than full closure of the maternity services in Maldon."

Under the agreed changes, there will be a 25-bed stroke rehabilitation unit and a 25-bed intermediate care unit at Brentwood Community Hospital, and a 22-bed stroke rehabilitation unit at Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre in Rochford. Outpatient services and ambulatory care at St Peter's will also remain for up to five years while partners work to develop a new local health hub.

The freestanding midwife-led birthing unit at St Peter's Hospital will permanently relocate to Braintree Community Hospital. But antenatal and postnatal outpatient care will remain in Maldon. A number of the hospital's services have already been relocated.

Terry Coleman, 57, from Maldon, said: "I have very mixed feelings about it all to be honest. It's good to see the hospital is not being closed down completely, that should never have even been a consideration. Like so many others I was very angry at the prospect of that happening.

"I think it's sad and a real shame to see some services being relocated. I am sure many people will be affected and inconvenienced by this. It could have been much worse really, so I am pleased the worst case scenario didn't happen in the end. I know the campaign groups did a great job. I really think without all the campaigning and push back from the public the hospital would now be closed down completely." 

A grandmother of four, 71, from Maldon, who did not want to be named, said: "I think it is the right decision to keep the hospital open, I am very pleased about it. There will be lots of people who can benefit from this.

"I would have liked to see all the services kept here in Maldon but it's better than the full closure of the hospital. Keeping some of the services here will mean lots of people do not need to travel further a field for medical appointments. I think it's very much a success story for people power. So many people showed strong feelings about it. I think it shows how important it is to speak up and make your voice heard about important issues. I really think everyone who campaigned or took part in the consultations has played a big part in this very important decision."