Basildon and Thurrock Hospital is set to receive and extra £30 million following a public consultation. 

In the wake of this year’s budget plans, it has been announced that Southend, Basildon and Chelmsford hospitals are to receive additional funding totalling £90 million.

Southend will receive the largest portion with £41million and Broomfield, in Chelmsford, will receive £19million.

Pleased with this announcement is Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle-Price.

She said: "I am very pleased that the Chancellor has given money to Southend, Broomfield & Basildon hospitals.

"This was the biggest capital grant to the NHS in this years budget and a real vote of confidence in plans to make our local health services better.

"It will deliver improvements at A&E at Basildon as well as a new hyper acute stroke unit.

"It is now time to deliver improved local services here in Thurrock so that people can be treated closer to home rather than travelling to Orsett & Basildon."

Clare Panniker, Chief Executive of the hospitals said: “This could represent the most significant investment into mid and south Essex for almost a decade and we are delighted.

“This is an important step in the work we have been doing to develop proposals to secure and improve the care we provide for our population in the future.”

But some health campaigners from the area are not as optimistic about what it could mean.

However, Dave Murray, a member of the Basildon and Thurrock Trade Union Council, described the amount as “a band aid for a bullet hole” and is sceptical it will save the NHS.

The news comes as the five clinical commission groups in mid and south Essex launched a formal public consultation on outline plans for the future of health and care services.

The Joint Committee of the CCGs last Thursday gave approval to begin consultation on proposals.

These include making improvements in A&E at all three hospitals and introducing a new specialist stroke centre at Basildon Hospital.

Full details of the proposals and the ways in which people can get involved are available at nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk