We wrote to our MP, Mark Francois, expressing our concern at the closure of two wards at Southend Hospital, given the previous Government’s diktat that a further three to four thousand houses were to be built in our area.

He pursued a reply on our behalf through the chief executive of South East Essex Primary Care Trust, who said improved hospital procedures complemented through Care in the Community would provide the ability to reduce this number of wards.

While this way forward has yet to be tested, our thoughts to his response were tempered by the fact that the diktat on the number of homes to be built had been rescinded.

Now the authority to build new homes had been devolved to local authorities and we are seeing numerous new home building schemes being proposed.

Also we now learn a third ward is to be closed at Southend Hospital.

With the loss of these three wards, we fear longer waiting lists will again be seen, together with potential loss of life as treatments are delayed.

We urge both local and central government to give serious thought to establishing a satisfactory solution, not only in the provision of adequate health services, but in all other elements of the infrastructure in this part of south east Essex, a large percentage of which appear inadequate to support the existing local community.

D N and Mrs H I Garwood
Tonbridge Road
Hockley