Consultation on St Peter's Hospital closure plan extended

A protest to save the community hospital took place in October last year

A public consultation about plans to close a 150-year-old hospital has been extended.

Services at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon could be relocated, and there are concerns patients would then have to make long journeys elsewhere.

NHS Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust said, if the closure went ahead, the land would likely be sold off and the money go back into services.

A consultation began in January and is now due to close on 11 April.

It was due to end on Thursday but the trust said the Easter break affected its ability to respond to inquiries about the process and some residents asked for more time.

• Campaigners strip naked to protest against hospital closure

• Frustration at six-hour hospital closure meeting

St Peter's Hospital has 16 stroke rehabilitation beds, a birthing unit and an outpatient service.

Last week, a group of women stripped naked in an online video to protest against the proposed closure.

MPs John Whittingdale and Priti Patel said they did not have confidence in the consultation, which was originally launched on 25 January and was set to close on 21 March.