Broomfield Hospital visited by Jeremy Hunt amid protests over hospital merger plans

Full story in Essex Live 19 January 2018

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt was heckled when he visited Broomfield Hospital amid debate over the merging of Essex’s NHS Trusts.

Protesters from Defend Our NHS Chelmsford gathered at both entrances to the hospital in an attempt to voice their concerns to the Government minister today (January 19).

Mr Hunt, who avoided face-to-face contact with any hecklers, was making a tour of hospitals in Essex ahead of the proposed merger, having visited Southend University Hospital before heading to Broomfield.

The proposed merger would see the trusts that govern Broomfield Hospital, Basildon University Hospital, and Southend University Hospital combined into one organisation and each specialist service concentrated at one of the hospitals.