Tories ‘are not at odds’ over A&E downgrade

More than 1,000 people turned out to demonstrate against NHS plans create a specialist emergency centre at Basildon Hospital. It would mean Southend and Broomfield, in Chelmsford, would be downgraded.

Campaigners from the Save Southend A&E group argue it will leave patients with long journeys on often gridlocked roads.

This week, Southend West parliamentary candidate Sir David Amess signed a petition against the plans.

His counterpart for Rochford and Southend East has continues to defend the plans - claiming a specialist A&E will provide a better service for patients.

However, Sir David has since claimed the pair are still singing from the same hymn sheet.

A spokesman for Sir David said: “Mr Amess is not aware of any difference of opinion between him and his parliamentary colleague or any Conservative candidate standing in this election in as much as we all want the best possible standards of healthcare for local residents.”

On Monday, Sir David said he was “totally committed” to opposing the plans after 40 people attended his surgery and urged him to sign the petition.

Norman Traub, from the Southend Keep the NHS Public campaign group, said: “This is a victory for our campaign. I think David Amess wanted to do the same as Duddridge but there was huge demonstration on Saturday and then at the meeting he said it was a good thing what the success regime was doing, but he was faced with 40 of his constituents who were telling him ‘your aren’t representing us’ and they were asking why he wasn’t at the demonstration.

“We are going to carry on co-ordinating our campaign for Southend, Basildon and Chelmsford hospitals.”

Mr Amess’s added: It is very disappointing that in spite of what David told them at his health drop-in session, some people are still saying that he supports the success regime plans, in particular, changing Southend A&E services which would in effect be a downgrading. That is not and has never been his position.”