IN OTHER health controversy...the NHS could face a legal challenge from Thurrock Council over plans to merge health authorities across mid and south Essex.

Conservative councillor James Halden said the council is “considering all options” to retain control of healthcare locally after it emerged that Thurrock’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has just two months to plan for a merger with neighbouring health authorities.

Neither Thurrock, Southend or other councils in Essex had been specifically told about the plan or the deadline.

At a meeting last Wednesday Mr Halden, who oversees health for Thurrock Council, said: “We are a partner that represents tens of millions of pounds of social care spend and hundreds of millions of regeneration spend.

“To not engage with us means they cannot adequately deliver for our patients.

“I have asked officers to consider all options outlining what powers we believe Thurrock should retain locally to continue to drive health improvements, failing that I am open to a legal challenge.”

It was also revealed at the meeting that the Conservative MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, Stephen Metcalfe, had written to the council to say he is “alarmed” at demands from the NHS and the plans “should not be rushed”.

Mr Metcalfe agreed that full consultation with councils is necessary and confirmed he will write to NHS England to ask them not to “railroad through changes that do not have local support”.

Discussion on the merger came after Labour councillor Victoria Holloway tabled a motion that urges the council to explore ways they can prevent the merger altogether.

If it goes ahead it will see CCGs from Thurrock, Southend, Mid Essex, Castle Point and Rochford, and Basildon and Brentwood merge to become the much larger mid and south Essex CCG.

Simon Wood, director of strategy and transformation at the NHS covering East of England, said: “As set out in the NHS long term plan, our ambition is for CCGs to merge to allow decisions to be made across areas quickly and easily.”