Yesterday (July 17), the Mid and South Essex NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) made the final decision in a "long journey" to confirm which services will stay at Maldon's Community Hospital. 

Voting with the working group recommendations, the board decided to retain all outpatient care, including pre- and post-natal appointments at St Peter's for up to five years while plans are progressed for a new local health hub.

Maldon's MP, Sir John Whittingdale, said: "I welcome the decision of the NHS Mid and South Essex ICB to maintain out patient services at St Peter's Hospital.

"This is a clear recognition that Maldon needs its own community health facilities, as was recommended by the Community Consultation Working Group and the consultation that I conducted.

"I will now continue to work with the ICB and other groups to identify the funding package needed for a permanent new health facility on the St Peter's site."

In spite of this, Sir John has spoken of his "disappointment" that St Peter's birthing unit will move permanently to the William Julien Courtauld Unit, Braintree.

"This decision will mean that mothers from the furthest areas in the Dengie Peninsula face a journey of up to an hour to get to Broomfield or Braintree to give birth," he added.

"As the population served by St Peter's continues to grow, I hope that this decision can be looked at again when it comes to plans for the new facility as can the provision of beds for intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation."

In addition to the relocation of the birthing unit, the stroke rehabilitation beds at the hospital will also be moved to services in Rochford and Brentwood. 

Jo Phillips, Campaign Manager of Protest Group 'Save Maldon's Medical Services', contributed to the working group's final recommendations.

She told Nub News she believes the decisions that have been made are "realistic".

"It was great news, we are very happy," Jo said.

"I think there's a huge potential and opportunity for Maldon to demonstrate new ways of working, particularly with the new 10 year NHS plan on the horizon.

"I am pleased with the result, but I do acknowledge that there will be some people that will have an element of sadness."

Jo added that while she is "proud" of Maldon for coming together in defence of the hospital, she said she hopes the local NHS has learnt lessons. 

"I think Maldon really did show how it can come together for something united, regardless of demographic," she said. 

"Things like this tend to only happen because something has been so bad, so I really do genuinely hope that no other community has to go through what Maldon has had to because of poor consultation."

In a statement, Tom Abell, Chief Executive for NHS Mid and South Essex said: "The decisions reached reflect our ambition to improve health services for everyone who lives in mid and south Essex.  

"We listened carefully to the feedback we've received on these proposals, and I want to thank everyone involved, including the members of the community and the staff involved who gave up their time to give their views, which have informed the decisions we have made today.  

"There will be a period of implementation, during which we will work closely with staff and local communities to ensure they are actively involved as their expertise will be critical in ensuring we get the best possible outcomes for patients because of these changes."  

While the ICB has promised to keep services at St Peter's for five years, they maintain the site is "high risk and unsuitable for long term clinical care."

Rather than keep the estate into the future, the ICB says it will now look at how to "optimise" its use in the short-term, through capital investment and continuous assessment.

However, leaders confirmed "no other viable sites" have been identified as of yet.