With all the current debate nationally about the NHS, and regionally about possible mergers between major NHS Trusts it is easy to overlook what is happening at the local level.

In Braintree we have a well respected community hospital which gained a “good” judgement the last time it was inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

I have been involved since the beginning discussions about a new hospital in the town, and it saddens me to have to say that I am more concerned than ever about the quality of current management provided by Mid Essex Hospitals Trust.

Moreover, the change in bed use proposed last year has already had a disturbing effect on the life of the hospital which has not been addressed by an absent day-to-day management team.

These are just some of the issues which will be considered at the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Braintree Community Hospital on Tuesday 27 February at 7.30pm at the Jubilee Hall, School Walk, Braintree.

In the interests of transparency, the Friends have invited and confirmed that senior figures from both Mid Essex Hospitals Trust and the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group will not only be present, but will be making reports which will be open to a question and answer session.

If you feel that you want to share your concerns, then please do come along to the meeting which is, of course, preceded by the business that any Annual general Meeting has to transact.

Emeritus Professor Chris Green OBE Chair Friends of Braintree Community Hospital