The NHS is looking for voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations across mid and south Essex to run a focus group on proposals that impact services at local community hospitals.
Dr Matthew Sweeting, System Medical Director at NHS Mid and South Essex said:
“It is important that we understand the diverse needs of all those living in mid and south Essex when considering making any changes to local services. We are keen to work with local community groups who can gather feedback from specific groups to make sure we hear from a range of people, for example carers, people with disabilities, or people with long term health conditions. To make it as easy as possible we will provide some small grant funding and provide a ‘how to guide’ which makes it as easy as possible to have a discussion and provide the feedback.
“We want to make sure everyone can receive the care they need in a safe environment, staffed by a highly skilled workforce, so that everyone has the best chance of a good health outcome.
“It’s important we involve people in any decisions that might affect them. We’re a long way from making decisions. Getting feedback from local people is vital.”
An expression of interest form is available on a consultation webpagewww.virtualviews.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/changes-to-services. All forms need to be received by midnight on 12 March 2024 with a microgrant payment of £300 provided for their participation. A toolkit is provided with a step-by-step guide on what groups would need to do.
The microgrant programme is part of an eight-week period of consultation about specific health services in mid and south Essex.
The consultation runs from 25 January to 21 March 2024.
The proposals we are asking people to consider are:
- potential changes to the places where we provide some community hospital intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation services,
- making permanent the temporary move of the freestanding midwife-led birthing unit from St Peter’s Hospital to, Maldon to the William Julien Courtauld Unit at St Michael’s, Braintree.
- the possibility of moving all other patient services at St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon to other locations, mostly in and around Maldon.
Other ways people can get involved
- Visiting a dedicated consultation webpage and completing a survey
- Joining planned discussion groups being held across the region.
- Joining online discussion sessions.
- Joining a public consultation hearing that we’re holding in Maldon on 19 March. This is a formal event, and people will need to submit their questions in advance. The event will also be live streamed on our YouTube page @MSEssex_ICS
- Joining a session being run by a voluntary sector organisation. These sessions are for people that might find it difficult to attend one of the other public events, and/or for people that need extra support to understand the proposals and share their views.
- Talking to us through our social media channels or at a drop-in event.
- Emailing us at: [email protected]
- Phoning us at: 01268 594350
- Writing to us at: FAO: Community Capacity Consultation NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, PO Box 6483, Basildon, SS14 0UG