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Campaign to save a Maldon hospital takes to the streets

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Woman with yellow hi-viz and purple woolly hat standing in a streetKate Bradbrook/BBC
Campaigner Michele Olley said people would have to travel for more than an hour for treatment if the hospital closes

Campaigners who are trying to stop the closure of a hospital have held their first public engagement event.

They want more people to get involved in the consultation exercise about the future of St Peter's Hospital in Maldon, Essex.

Local health leaders have said it is too run down and expensive to fix, and are looking to relocate services.

The local MP said the best solution might be a new hospital building in the same town.

The 150-year-old hospital offers services such as blood tests, X-rays, maternity and orthopaedics.

It is, however, showing its age with damp ceilings, cracked walls and weak floors.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has said it would cost £18.7m to fix the problems and the services should be relocated - some, such as stroke rehabilitation, have already gone.

Simon Dedman/BBC Railings outside a Victorian hospital building with placards including "I was born here"Simon Dedman/BBC
St Peter's Hospital has been serving people in Maldon for 150 years

The group Save Maldon's Medical Services took to the streets on Saturday to get more people involved in the consultation exercise on the future of St Peter's.

One of the campaigners, Michelle Olley, said "If you remove those services, they're going to be moving these people out to Braintree and down to Rochford and Brentwood, the distances they're going to have to travel are well over an hour."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Man with long white beard and glasses stands in a streetKate Bradbrook/BBC
Les Flack said his wife relies on the hospital to manage her COPD

Les Flack, another member of the group, was worried about what the closure would mean for his wife, who has COPD: "They're there all the time, the pulmonary team, so she goes there for assessments, blood tests, any specialist stuff."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Woman with medium-length blonde hair and glasses stands in a streetKate Bradbrook/BBC
Caroline Cooper said she wanted the hospital to survive to look after her grandchildren

One of the people who stopped to ask questions and complete a survey was Caroline Cooper, who said: "I have a 94-year-old mother who uses the phlebotomy department and I have grandchildren who will use these facilities in the future".

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Man with short grey hair and wearing a tie stands in a streetKate Bradbrook/BBC
John Whittingdale MP thinks the solution might be a new hospital for Maldon

John Whittingdale, who is the local Conservative MP, believes keeping services local is more important than saving the building.

He said: "We've been talking about a new hospital for many years.

"I deeply regret it hasn't happened but maybe this is an opportunity to actually get that new provision in the town."

The ICB said: "The proposals set out a clear commitment to make sure services at St Peter's Hospital such as blood testing and a majority of out patient appointments, stay local.

"We encourage people to share their views."

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