The basic premise of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership consultation on proposals for hospital service changes in mid and south Essex, is to improve care by providing it in the best place and designed around you. It’s also about being sustainable for the future.
The consultation contains proposals to transfer services from Orsett Hospital to purpose built facilities that are easier to get to, joined up with other public services and fit for modern healthcare today.
The way people access healthcare is changing. Technological advances mean we can do more for people with less complicated procedures that require less space and often no need for beds or overnight stays.
In Thurrock, there has been a local transformation plan with a long term vision, For Thurrock in Thurrock. Over the last two years people have been able to comment and input in to the new changes to health and care in the Borough. This included addressing concerns about not being able to access or navigates health and care locally, and wanting more services from their GPs or primary care.
Changes have already happened with the development of new out of hours health hubs, now in their third year of operation. We’ve also extended primary care services, including access to social prescribing, e-consultations and even clinical pharmacists – all within Thurrock’s GP surgeries.
Orsett Hospital currently offers outpatient appointments, a minor injuries unit, sexual health clinics, minor eye procedures and renal clinics. We want to improve on what’s offered by making them available closer to where people live. Orsett, while okay for parking, is not served well by public transport. The building is ageing and no longer fits with 21st Century healthcare. It needs over £10m investment to bring it anywhere near close to being suitable.
In order to improve the way the services are delivered we believe that offering them in new, purpose built facilities, which will combine medical with elements of social, mental and community care facilities, will offer people a more comprehensive service and in areas where people live.
A commitment has already been made to build these facilities under For Thurrock in Thurrock. In Basildon and Brentwood area there is also money set aside to build new or update facilities that are local to people there.
The aim would be to develop the new facilities over the next two to three years, so that hospital specialists and nurses would be able to hold clinics in the same premises as GPs and other services in Grays, Purfleet, Corringham and Tilbury.
Once these new services are fully up and running, we would no longer need the outdated building in Orsett. We would be able to sell the property and invest the money in improving care for local people.
As part of developing these plans, we would like to hear more from you about how you see these services being delivered in the future.
Please visit our consultation website to find further information on all proposals for hospital service changes across mid and south Essex. A supplementary paper on proposals to transfer services from Orsett Hospital is available on the website at http://v1.nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk/background/further-information/
There are various ways to have your say. There is an online feedback questionnaire, you can write to us or email us if you prefer (see contact details below). If you would like printed copies of any of our information, the main consultation document, the supplementary paper on transfer of services from Orsett or the feedback questionnaire, for example, please contact us (see details below).
You can also join the discussion by coming to one of our open discussion events. See details on how to book your place at http://v1.nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk/have-your-say/events/ Booking is not essential but helps us to plan for the right number of people!
We look forward to hearing your views. Your say really does matter.
Mandy Ansell
Accountable Officer, Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group
To order further documents or book a place at one of our events you can contact us at:
Phone:
Email:
Address: STP Consultation Team, Wren House, Colchester Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 5PF