St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon

Opened the debate

It is a pleasure to have a fellow Essex Member in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome my hon. Friend the Minister and acknowledge support from neighbouring constituencies. St Peter’s Hospital, established since the NHS's inception, faces significant structural issues due to its age and condition, impacting service delivery despite staff dedication. The hospital needs either refurbishment or relocation but funding constraints have delayed progress. Recent consultations propose permanent closure of in-patient beds and birthing unit with out-patient services potentially relocated elsewhere. Constituents are overwhelmingly opposed, viewing the consultation as a formality. Maldon district’s growing population necessitates more NHS facilities rather than closures. The maternity unit's importance is underscored by declining birth rates reported last year due to staffing issues but historically supported over 300 births annually. Out-patient services are vital for thousands of patients and must remain uninterrupted in Maldon until alternatives are established, maintaining easy access given the dispersed geography.

Government Response

Thank you, my right hon. Friend John Whittingdale for securing this debate on St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon. Government recognises the local NHS needs to consider clinically informed decisions regarding hospital services, acknowledging no final decision has been made with ongoing consultations until April 2024. The hospital’s structural issues and staffing challenges necessitate significant investment or relocation. I assure my right hon. Friends that the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board will engage fully with residents before deciding future plans, considering both patient needs and travel implications for families and carers. Government investment in NHS services includes over £61 million operational capital funding in 2023-24 and nearly 370 million general practice appointments booked since the last 18 months. Any changes must be made sensitively to local views.