BOSSES at Basildon and Southend hospital have been unable to confirm whether appointments and operations will be cancelled on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals, says it is “working through any changes needed" as a result of the recently declared bank holiday to mark Queen’s Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday, September 19.
The trust’s statement comes after it was revealed thousands of hospital appointments were set to be cancelled across the county on the day of mourning.
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The Queen passed away on Thursday, September 8 at her Balmoral estate aged 96.
Many hospital appointments on the day of her funeral have been cancelled, with some NHS trusts saying that “non-urgent” procedures and clinic appointments should be postponed, it has been reported by openDemocracy.
According to the report, patients who waited months for treatment were informed they had been postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
NHS England told openDemocracy the decision to postpone appointments is “for trusts to make locally”.
The trust which covers south Essex’s two main hospitals, says it is currently unable to confirm if appointments and operations will be cancelled.
A spokesperson for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are currently working through any changes needed to support patients and staff as part of the forthcoming Bank Holiday for the Queen’s funeral on Monday, September 19.
“We will contact any patients affected by changes as a result of this.”
The trust is expected to make a further statement clarifying its position later this week.
NHS England’s director of primary care Dr Ursula Montgomery has also announced that GP surgeries can close on the day of the funeral.
“GP practices will be contractually able to close on this day for their core services as it is a confirmed bank holiday,” Dr Montgomery said.
The Echo has attempted to contact every GP in Southend to check if they will be closed on Monday.
Of the 30 practices listed by NHS Southend CCG, ten answered the phone – all of which confirmed they would be closing.
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