Dr Michael Weston Has Come Up With A Novel Scheme To Save The Chelmsford And Essex Hospital

Proposal for private ownership and combined NHS and private facilities.

Exterior views of the 100-year-old Chelmsford and Essex Hospital premises in Chelmsford which are being reviewed by the Health Authority. There are plans to move the general medicine and surgery services to the Broomfield Hospital on the outskirts of the city. A consultation document to be published shortly suggests this would save £200,000 annually and recommends keeping the main building as health service offices. Dr Michael Weston talks to camera about his proposal for the premises to be purchased with private capital, and for private medical services and the NHS to share the site and facilities. He mentions that services could be provided for elderly people who would find the alternative hospital less accessible. He also suggests specialist services for local patients who might otherwise need to travel to London frequently, for example to receive kidney treatment. Reporter Alastair Yates mentions that the National Union of Public Employees is campaigning for NHS services to remain at this hospital. This video was made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Hospitals; Medical services; NHS; Private health services; Renal health; Kidney treatment; Hospital buildings

Additional Description

The Chelmsford and Essex Hospital at New London Road, Chelmsford opened in a purpose-built building in 1883, but originated in a dispensary in Duke Street from 1818. It joined the NHS in 1948. Services were transferred to Broomfield Hospital but the main building continued as a health centre with the rest of the site redeveloped for residential use. The kidney dialysis unit at Broomfield Hospital was opened in 1994 following a fundraising appeal headed by Dr Michael Weston, Consultant, and Ann Dovener, Medical Services Manager. This provided local services for patients who would otherwise need to travel to London or Cambridge.