SOUTHEND, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals are to halt all non-time critical appointments from today to divert resources to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

In a joint statement, bosses at the three hospitals said they would also reduce the number of routine operations over the next three weeks.

They said: "In order to free up staff to help our response to coronavirus we are stopping all non-time critical outpatient appointments and x-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound scans and nuclear medicine from Monday March 23.

"We will also be reducing the number of routine operations and procedures over the next three weeks.

"We will continue to provide outpatient appointments, scans and procedures for patients who need them urgently, for example patients with suspected or confirmed cancer.

"We will provide these initial outpatient consultations over the phone or by video link."

The spokesman added: "We will contact all patients affected by these changes over the next two weeks, by phone or letter, to confirm what they need to do.

"If you have an urgent query about your appointment please contact MSEOutpatientQuery@southend.nhs.uk."