A HEALTH watchdog says Southend residents will lose out in proposed changes to stroke care services with some facing two-hour journeys costing nearly £30.

The results of a public consultation on community hospital services, including stroke rehabilitation and intermediate care services in mid and south Essex, resulted in “widespread objections” to two options offered to residents.

The first option will involve a single, 50-bed stroke rehabilitation unit at Brentwood Community Hospital serving the whole of mid and south Essex.

The second involves a 25-bed stroke rehabilitation ward at Brentwood along with 25 intermediate care beds and a 22-bed stroke rehabilitation ward at the Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre in Rochford.

But Owen Richards, chief officer at Healthwatch Southend, said while there were benefits to centralising services volunteers had found it was taking two hours each way to reach Brentwood from Southend.

He said: “We feel Southend residents will be disadvantaged by both options which the Integrated Care Board is considering. Whichever option is chosen will lead to patients being admitted to Brentwood Community Hospital instead of the Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre.

“We know how important it is for patients to receive visits from family and friends as part of their recovery. Getting to Brentwood from Southend is far from easy if you use public transport – one of our volunteers tested the journey, which took two hours each way and could have cost up to £28.”

Mr Richards added: “Southend also has low levels of car ownership, compared to other parts of the East of England. We have written formally to the Integrated Care Board saying we are unable to support either option.”

Four out of five respondents rejected both options with objectors citing the “burden of extra travel time and costs the proposals would place on patients, families and carers, and its impact on the environment”.

There was marginally more support from Southend residents for the second option.

The consultation, carried out by the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board between January and April, also includes the controversial closure of St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon and changes to midwife-led maternity services in the region.

The report will be discussed at the Essex and Southend joint health overview and scrutiny committee today.