Full story in the Braintree and Witham Times, 10 October 2018
Plans to reshape healthcare in south Essex are in jeopardy after Southend councillors agreed to refer them to the Health Secretary.
The move could mean £118million in NHS funding is frozen and the proposals to split treatment between Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals, are put on hold.
Members of Southend’s people and scrutiny committee met last night to discuss the referral and it was agreed the plans are unclear and could endanger patients.
The committee was initially due to vote on whether to refer the plans based on specialised stroke services being centralised in Basildon rather than Southend.