MALDON residents attended a Question Time-style event to quiz NHS bosses and vent their frustrations over plans for a new hospital.
More than 150 people crammed into the Plume School hall to hear from six distinguished guests representing different strands of the NHS, Maldon District Council and the National Health Action (NHA) party.
These included Louise Irvine from the NHA, Mid Essex Hospitals Trust chief executive Paul Forden, and interim chairman of the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECCG), Dr Bryan Spencer.
Much of the debate centred on plans to bring a new hospital to the district, with a planning application for a new health facility and 320 homes at Maldon Hall Farm to be submitted by Kensington & Edinburgh Estates imminently.
The meeting was organised by the Blackwater Patient Participation Group (BPPG), and former Maldon town councillor Tom Kelly, 73, was pleased with the turnout.
"The number of people who turned up shows that the Maldon district has a real appetite for more information about their local NHS service," said Mr Kelly, a member of the patient group.
"There was a lot of frustration in the room. People want to know when the hospital will arrive and who will own the site. They understand the severity of the need for a new facility here in Maldon."
The BPPG aims to help patients easily understand the NHS and how recent reforms affect the area, while providing a forum to air opinions.
During the evening a number of topics were discussed, including the number of hospital beds with a rising elderly population, the new ambulances provided to the district, and issues with the area's GP surgeries.
Other guests included Maldon District Council chairman Bob Boyce, deputy CEO of the East of England Ambulance Service, Rob Ashford, and Ian Stidston, director of commissioning at NHS England.
Cllr Boyce confirmed at the meeting that Maldon District Council is considering investing in a new community hospital if services can be guaranteed at a new site.
Mr Kelly added: "People are wary of a private company owning the building after a number of bad experiences with PFI agreements.
"And I think people were shocked at just how little cohesion there is between the various NHS departments.
"It's encouraging that the council is considering investing, and now the NHS needs to decide what it wants from a suitable centre."
After more than a decade of delays and frustration a new hospital looked on the cards after a renewed emphasis on collaborative efforts between Maldon District Council and the Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECCG) were agreed at the end of 2013.
But little has materialised and in August tempers flared at a district council overview and scrutiny meeting that tackled the subject.
