A consultation on whether to move all the services out of Orsett Hospital has been criticised as being "invisible" by the Thurrock Labour Group.

Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are asking residents in Thurrock whether they approve of the proposal of moving services out of Orsett Hospital and spreading them out to other medical centres.

If these services are moved, this would result in the closure of Orsett Hospital.

Dissatisfied with the lack of openness about the consultation was Thurrock Labour leader, Oliver Gerrish.

He said: “Most residents we’ve been speaking to are surprised to learn that there is a consultation underway. The future of Orsett Hospital is being decided right now and you’d barely know it. I fear that many residents will miss the chance to have their say.

“Not only is the consultation being run very quietly, the section on Orsett Hospital is buried in the overall consultation on proposals related to the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP).

“Thurrock Labour are not convinced that there are solid plans in place for the services currently being delivered by Orsett Hospital.

“The Thurrock Labour Group is opposing the closure of Orsett Hospital. We believe that without something concrete already in place it’s far too dangerous to sign away the future of our local healthcare."

Mid and South Essex CCGs are proposing to move services to different medical centres in the south west of the county. These include existing sites such as Basildon, Brentwood and Billericay, as well as proposed new medical centres in Thurrock - which include the yet-to-be-built Tilbury and Purfleet centres.

Thurrock Council has reiterated in the past that Thurrock services will not leave the borough and that the hospital will not close until the new medical centres have opened.

Mandy Ansell, Accountable Officer, Thurrock CCG said:“We refute claims of trying to hide the Orsett Consultation.

"This has been promoted through the media when launched, we’re working with council colleagues and Healthwatch Thurrock to get this consultation out to the community.  

"We are working hard to help people in Thurrock to have their say on proposals on the way health and care is delivered. We know that for Thurrock residents, proposals for services currently delivered in Orsett Hospital, will be of key importance.

"The consultation is online but we are working with the council and community colleagues to provide hard copies in libraries, community hubs, GP surgeries and pharmacies in Thurrock.

"It is really important that the public know the following:

"1) nothing will change at Orsett until the Integrated Medical Centres are open in 2020/21.

"2) people really do have a unique opportunity to feedback what important to them and share their ideas on the design of services currently offered at Orsett Hospital.

"3) Engagement with the public is very important to the CCG and we urge people to play their part and engage fully in the events and the consultation.”

In a consultation paper, a spokesman for the CCGs writes: "We would like to know your views on proposals to transfer services from Orsett Hospital to a number of new centres closer to where people live in Thurrock (for Thurrock residents) and to Basildon, Brentwood and Billericay (for residents of those areas).

"Only when new services are up and running, would it be possible to close Orsett Hospital which, although valued by many local people, is difficult to access by public transport and is an ageing site requiring in excess of £10 million to bring the building up to standard."

The consultation will end on March 9 this year. You can give your feedback by visiting http://www.nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk/ and filling out the online form.