TWO MPs who were re-elected with clear majorities have shown their support for controversial plans to overhaul the NHS.

Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois have spoken out after their Tory colleague Sir David Amess threw his support behind a campaign calling for the Mid and South Essex Success Regime plans to be scrapped.

As Sir David held onto his Southend West seat for the sixth election in a row, he told crowds at Garon Park, where the count took place, that “Southend’s A&E will never be downgraded” while he is MP.

It comes amid fears that lives will be put at risk if Basildon Hospital becomes the specialist emergency centre for the area. Under the plans, Southend and Broomfield, in Chelmsford, would have services scaled back to deal with less serious cases.

In a letter to Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted Southend A&E will remain open for business - with ambulances being cut in stages over “several years.” He also claimed doctors will lead the decision on changes.

Mrs Harris has defended the success regime plans.

She said: “I completely understand why residents are concerned about our hospitals’ services.

“I have been in regular contact with Southend Hospital and Mid and South Essex Success Regime.

“They have been clear that they are only looking at ways to improve outcomes for patients based on medical advice.

“I am glad to see Jeremy Hunt’s further reassurance.

“I will continue to closely interrogate these plans as they develop, to be confident they are genuinely in the interests all of us living in South Essex.

“As I have said repeatedly, I will naturally not support any plans that medical experts believe would diminish the quality of health outcomes or put lives at risk.” Mr Francois is more cautious - saying he wants more information about exactly what is proposed.

He said: “This issue has cropped up on the doorstep a number of times while I have been out campaigning, so I was pleased to see in the Secretary of State’s letter that decisions will be clinically led and no changes to A&E will be made until we have the right community services and the right ambulance service availability.

“I now intend to ask a number of questions about how many ambulances would actually be required, before any changes might take place in several years time.”