A COUNCILLOR has met with managers at Basildon Hospital to explore how the organisations can work together to improve health in the borough.

A memorandum of understanding was agreed at a cabinet meeting in March to enter into an agreement to work together.

Labour councillor Gavin Callaghan, chairman of the policy and resources committee, met with managing director, Clare Culpin, and chief transformation officer, Tom Abell, at the hospital to discuss how to move forward with a number of projects.

Mr Callaghan said: “We are committed to partnership working and are keen to work with the hospital to find ways we can improve healthcare for all residents.

“We discussed a number of ideas and will work to develop those ideas into initiatives that make a real difference to residents.

“Among the ideas discussed is an initiative called ‘Step Down’ which would free up hospital beds by providing intermediate accommodation to patients who need support before returning home but do not need to be in hospital. I’d also like to see how community health facilities can be better provided.”