A former Halstead GP is urging residents in the town to have their say on controversial proposals to change the ways in which hospitals in mid Essex are run.

A 14-week consultation has been launched by a joint committee of the five clinical commissioning groups who are seeking to make a number of key changes.

Among the proposals put forward are plans to use Braintree Community Hospital for orthopaedic operations for patients in mid Essex.

New assessment and treatment centres would also be set up alongside A&E departments at Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospital.

With the consultation period now underway, Shan Newhouse, who spent 15 years as a GP at Elizabeth Courtauld surgery, is urging patients in Halstead to have their say on the proposals which she says will have a big impact on them.

Ms Newhouse, who lives in Sible Hedingham, said: “This matters to our area firstly because we really need the public to know the consultation process has started, and secondly, because the huge NHS changes are going to affect our care locally. General practice locally is under huge pressure, the district nurses have been cut by half and now work from Braintree, having been moved out of Halstead.

“This means the close working relationship between GPs and district nurses has gone.

“Social care budget will be down 40 per cent, Braintree hospital’s care beds are going to cold orthopaedics - these are big central hospital reconfigurations which will make people travel further.

“The plans are underfunded, deeply flawed, and setting things up for the privatisation of the NHS.”

Dr Caroline Dollery, GP and chairman of the mid Essex clinical commissioning group, has insisted the healthcare group will work with the public to ensure the right changes are made and that all feedback will be considered by an independent third party.

She said: “The public consultation is an important next stage in the work we have been doing together to develop and build a health and care system fit for the future for the people of mid and south Essex and provide them with a further opportunity to give us their views to help shape the proposals.

“This is not a final decision to implement any of the changes described, which would only happen after the consultation with our communities has finished and the feedback independently analysed.”

Feedback from the consultation will be reviewed before being considered by the committee next summer.

To have your say on the proposals or view the details, visit nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk.