Closure of Rochford Hospital should serve as warning to NHS, Essex MP says

Yesterday, the Echo revealed how NHS bosses said care in Essex costs more than the money available, saying: “the market town nature of the county has resulted in five relatively small hospitals, where in other areas a similar sized population might be served by one or two hospitals.”

Health bosses ruled out closing any Essex hospitals, but hinted at a shake-up of our overburdened A&E services, closer collaboration between Trusts, and a focus more on “care in the community.”

Rochford General Hospital, which was at one time the area’s main maternity unit, was closed down in the early 1990s and much of the site is now housing.

Tory Southend West MP Sir David Amess said: “This proposal, if it is genuine, for fewer hospitals in Essex, is a complete non-starter.

“If you look at many of the problems today regarding Southend Hospital, much has to do with the closure of Rochford Hospital years ago.

“This resulted in too many patients having to attend a hospital on a land-locked site.”

          David Amess

In the summer, regulators from the NHS started a detailed look into health services in Essex, and in two other areas in the country, because failing hospitals in those regions, called the “Success Regime.”

And their initial conclusions, seven months on, has painted a damning picture for the state of health in the county, with hospitals criticised for an overuse of locum staff because of duplication of services between sites.

Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe, who represents South Basildon and East Thurrock, added: ““Any proposals to take away core services will be rigorously defended by me. While it is technically accurate that our hospitals are smaller than the national average, I am sure each and every member in each area will defend their hospitals.

“Of course, there is an argument there for closer collaboration in some areas, for example from Southend and Basildon hospitals.

“We need to see what proposals come forward in the future, if any, but I will not be standing by and watching any downgrade of our core services.”

But Conservative MP Rebecca Harris, who represents Castle Point, had more of a positive view on the report’s findings.

She said: “At the moment, I’m happy with the findings, and remember it is being let by clinicians which is the most important thing.

“Hospitals working in collaboration with each other, not in competition, and sharing backroom staff will only help the outcomes for people.”

MPs contacted on the issue

The Echo asked all of our south Essex MPs if they would like to comment on the proposals.

Tory MPs Sir David Amess (Southend West) and Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) replied to the Echo’s request for a comment, while James Duddridge (Southend East and Rochford) is in Sudan on a ministerial visit.

But the Echo asked the offices and aides of Rebecca Harris (Castle Point), John Baron (Basildon and Billericay), on Monday afternoon, but did not receive a response at the time of going to press.

And the Echo contacted Mark Francois’ (Rayleigh and Wickford) office shortly after midday yesterday (Tues 26) but did not receive a response at the time of going to press.

The Echo invited all of our MPs to comment on the initial findings of the Success Regime in Essex, if they wished.

A leading councillor says the healthcare in Essex faces a £180million black hole if the situation continues to get worse.

James Moyies

Massive funding block hole for Essex healthcare

James Moyies (Southend Independence), who is responsible for health at Southend Council, and chairs the Southend Health and Wellbeing board, says healthcare in Essex is facing a black hole of some £180million if it continues as it is.

He said: “The fact we have three small hospitals that are trying to do everything, it makes sense to start looking at more collaboration especially when it looks at really specialist services where the best consultants can be placed to give the best outcomes to people.

“For some services people will have to travel to Chelmsford, Basildon, and Southend, but the outcomes should improve for them and the costs should come down.

“But there needs to be investment into prevention strategies too, so the hospitals don’t swallow up all the money.”