A WITHAM councillor says residents in the town could be hit if St Peter's Hospital closes in Maldon.

The 150-year-old hospital could be shut in a major shake-up of health services in the area.

The move has caused anger in Maldon.

Witham councillor Phil Barlow says it could an impact on patients in his town as well.

He is urging residents to attend a public consultation on March 11 which will discuss the proposals.

Former Witham mayor Mr Barlow has represented the Witham North ward for the last 35 years and was a non-executive director at the East of England Ambulance Trust from 2007 to 2013.

Braintree and Witham Times: Site - St Peter's HospitalSite - St Peter's Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “I’ve had a lot of exposure to health issues around Witham over the years.

“Witham does have secondary care issues. We have lots of GPs, but we need to travel for clinic facilities and outpatient services.

“Maldon is the closest and easiest to access for outpatients’ services - a closure makes life much more difficult."

“More importantly, it is unclear if all the outpatients’ services at St Peter’s will be reproduced.”

Braintree and Witham Times: Caring - Councillor Phil BarlowCaring - Councillor Phil Barlow (Image: Witham Council)

The public consultation will be held at New Rickstones Academy on March 11, starting at 7pm.

A representative from Mid and South Essex NHS will be at the event to answer questions.

NHS bosses could permanently close St Peter's, in Spital Road, move its services elsewhere and reallocate community inpatient beds, under the proposals .

Braintree and Witham Times: Meeting place - New Rickstones Academy in WithamMeeting place - New Rickstones Academy in Witham (Image: Submitted)

That would mean residents needing services such as stroke rehabilitation or community hospital intermediate care would have to travel further afield.

Mr Barlow said: "Maldon is six miles away, with reasonable car parking, and has a bus service from Witham town centre straight to hospital.

“If many services are transferred to Braintree, parking won’t be as easy and people will have to catch at least two buses.

“If services go to Broomfield, there are parking issues.

“There are x-ray facilities at St Peter’s, a phlebotomy service as well. You can easily book an appointment and jump on a bus.

“We are concerned. Residents need to be aware this closure will impact them.”