A FORMER GP has voiced concerns over the impact 'virtual' wards could have on the future of Halstead Hospital.

NHS bosses are launching a six-month pilot scheme in May to help care for patients after they leave hospital.

They say 'virtual wards' to treat patients at home will help protect them from the risk of exposure to Covid-19 and mean they can keep in close contact with their families.

But Dr Shan Newhouse, who was a GP at Halstead Surgery for 15 years, says she is "very concerned" about the "potential threat" to Halstead Hospital.

Dr Newhouse is standing for Labour in the Hedingham ward at next month's county council elections.

She said: " I used to visit Halstead Hospital often as part of my GP work.

"It was a vital resource for patients. It provided rehabilitation for those recovering who no longer needed a central hospital’s facilities.

"It also provided end of life care for many.

"I was always struck by the high quality of personal care provided. It was small and comfortable, an easy place for fragile patients to cope with."

Halstead Hospital staff have been working at Braintree Community Hospital during the pandemic to tend to Covid-19 positive patients.

Dr Newhouse says Halstead Hospital remains a "vital resource" for the community.

"I am not against increased home provision, but there are limits to how well this can work," she said.

"The bottom line is that people need a hospital bed if they can’t toilet themselves and cope at home with support.

"It is unrealistic to expect hospitals not to be needed.

"What we need is an expansion of the NHS. It is painfully short of beds and staff after ten years of being run down.

"Covid is going to continue creating even greater need for a long time, both from the acute illness and long covid."

Halstead independent councillor Jo Beavis has also voiced concerns over virtual wards.

Speaking last month, she said: "“It seems that end of life services are being attacked further, seen as an easy to target reorganisation on the most frail and vulnerable residents in our district.

“I know that the Covid pandemic means that more elderly people are being cared for at home but what happens post the pandemic?

“It seems, unless I can be convinced otherwise, that this pandemic is being used as an excuse to reorganise local adult social care families, staff care and many staff work locally."

The Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group previously said no decisions have yet been made on the long term future of community hospitals in mid and south Essex, and any changes would go through a public consultation process.