LESSONS over lives being put at risk should be learnt from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, according to a leading Southend Hospital consultant.

Dr Joseph O’Brien has spoken out again over proposed changed to A&E services across Essex –which could see Southend Hospital downgraded.

He has urged for warnings over the Mid and South Essex Success Regime plans not to be ignored as they were over the West London tower block.

Tenants living in the building had warned it could be a serious fire risk before dangerous cladding saw flames engulf the block.

Dr O’Brien, a consultant gastroenterologist, said: “The images of the Grenfell Tower Fire are screed on the national consciousness. The event has shaken the country to its core, provoking widespread soul searching.

“On a local front, the plans of the Success Regime to downgrade Southend Hospital A&E department with blue light ambulances diverted to a specialised A&E at Basildon has attracted mounting disquiet.

“We are told these plans are supported by clinicians and will improve future healthcare, information spun to allay fears and allow the proposal to pass unchallenged.

“Residents with legitimate concerns are told that opponents are scaremongering and distorting the facts. “

Campaigners from Save Southend A&E are concerned patients will be put at risk if they have to endure long ambulance journeys along the often gridlocked A127 and A13.

As part of the Success Regime plans, Basildon will become a specialist emergency centre and the only hospital in the area taking 24 hour blue light services. Southend and Broomfield, in Chelmsford, will take less serious cases.

Mr O’Brien added: “I do not believe is is inappropriate to highlight the risks of death in transit on the A127. I am not aware of any local clinicians who feel this proposal is satisfactory. We all accept that the NHS has to evolve and innovate with reconfiguration of services part of that agenda.

“However, in this case, the proposal is borne out of the need for budget cuts and the argument that it will improve patients care specious – the opposite is the case.”

Dr O’Brien previously labelled the plans “potentially hazardous.”

Clare Panniker, chief executive of Southend, Basildon and Chelmsford hospitals said: “No decisions have yet been made.

“We are listening very carefully indeed to the views of clinicians and local people. This is evident from the last 12 months of discussions where local feedback has influenced the pace of change and added much more detail to the original proposals.

“These discussion will continue at least until September as part of being sure that any proposed changes will save more lives in the future and provide better care for patients.”