POLITICIANS lined up to welcome the news that Southend will not lose a fully function A&E.

Sir David Amess, Tory MP for Southend West, lead a revolt against plans to downgrade Southend Hospital.

Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Sir David said: “I am delighted that the future of Southend Hospital’s A&E has been secured. I told residents during the general election campaign that I would not allow our A&E to be downgraded, that it would continue to receive patients 24/7 and receive ambulances with blue lights.

“My commitment now is to ensure that the services provided at Southend Hospital continue to be developed and improved. This is a victory for every concerned resident who wrote to me and campaigned.”

Fellow Conservative James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend West, previously supported the plans – but yesterday welcomed the U-turn.

He said: “Having spoken to a large number of residents over recent months it was clear that there were very real concerns that blue light ambulances, if travelling to Basildon, could be detrimental to the patient. I made sure that the reservations and concerns that were discussed with me were brought to the attention of Clare Panniker, as well as the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State at the Department of Health, to ensure that they were fully aware of these issues.”

Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois added: “People are often cynical about consultation exercises these days but this one appears to have been genuine and I would like to thank local NHS leaders for listening to these concerns and taking action as a result.”

Dr Anita Donley OBE, independent chairman of the Mid and South Essex Success Regime, said: “The aim still stands to develop specialist centres across our three hospital sites and to separate planned operations and treatments from emergency care.

“We know from national evidence that this can improve the quality of care and patients’ chances of survival – particularly with very serious cases. But we are working with our clinicians and local people to make sure we develop the right proposals for mid and south Essex. We are developing an option where the majority of patients could get the specialist emergency care they need via their local A&E.

“No decision on the future pattern of services has yet been taken. We will only decide what changes to make after a full public consultation.”