How will reconfiguration affect service provision in Essex?
A major shake-up of acute hospital services has been approved by commissioners within the Mid and South Essex STP area.
The proposals set out in the STP’s decision-making business case Your care in the best place got approval at a meeting on 6 July. The estimated cost is £30m a year until 2020/21.
The service provision will be adjusted so that emergency patients will be treated and stabilised locally and then transferred to regional specialist centres. It also separates planned procedures from emergency care.
Some of the original proposals were unpopular with lobby groups because of safety concerns about transfers and the approved proposals include a new clinical transport service.
The clinical commissioning groups involved are:
- Basildon and Brentwood CCG
- Castlepoint and Rochford CCG
- Mid Essex CCG
- Southend CCG
- Thurrock CCG
The acute trusts concerned are due to be merged in 2019. They are:
- Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
- Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
A community hospital at Orsett will be closed.
Further information
NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group: CCGs in mid and south Essex agree proposals for hospital changes
NHS Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group: Your care in the best place: decision-making business case