Those behind the shake-up of local health services, designed to plug a financial black hole, say the measures have worked elsewhere in the country.

The plans, being imposed to tackle a £90million deficit for the three hospitals in 2016/17, will see a range of services merged to save money and personnel during challenging times for recruitment.

The Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership says evidence from other areas in the country that have already established a hyper-acute stroke unit suggests that patients benefit from higher chances of survival and good recovery.

Speaking to the Echo about the proposals last month Claire Panniker, chief executive of Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals, said: “No matter what the final model, we would have acute stroke units on each of the sites so you would have a stroke unit locally as well as the potential for a concentrated hyper acute stroke unit on one of the three sites.

“We envisage senior staff will work as a single clinical team providing a service both in the local hospitals and the hyper acute stroke unit.”

Read more: Super unit plan for stroke patients

The proposals, due to published at the end of the month, will emphasise that “all three main hospitals in Southend, Chelmsford and Basildon are equally important for providing hospital care in the future for their local population”. They form part of a plan to prepare for a continuing rise in the number of people who need health care. These proposals build on the benefits from Southend, Broomfield and Basildon hospitals working together as one group to make the most of clinical talent, new treatments and technology and achieve better outcomes and quality of care for patients.

Dr Caroline Dollery, local GP and clinical chairman of the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We all want the very best health and care for people.

“While there are examples of excellent care, it is very difficult to achieve ever-increasing standards with consistency across our three hospitals.

“It makes complete sense for the hospitals to work together in some of the very specialist types of services.

“At the same time, we are looking at how we can develop our GP, community services, mental health and social care to help people stay well and out of hospital.

“The CCG Joint Committee is keen to hear the views and ideas of local people on the wider picture as well as the specific proposals for hospital services.”

Each hospital also has a range of different specialist expertise, such as the radiotherapy and cancer centre at Southend, the specialist centre for burns and plastic surgery at Broomfield Hospital near Chelmsford and the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon.

Working together as one group, it is proposed that the hospitals build on their existing expertise and offer other specialist surgery and treatments that require a hospital stay. The proposed new services would work across all three hospitals and guarantee a full team of specialist doctors, nurses and technicians available around the clock.