Welcome to our fortnightly NHS Mid and South Essex news round up. This regular email series brings you the latest local news on innovations in healthcare, changes and improvements to services and how the NHS is helping local people in need.
| NHS patients urged to continue coming forward for care during upcoming resident doctors’ strike |
Resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – are to take strike action for five days. There will be a full walkout beginning at 7am on Friday 25 until 7am on Wednesday 30 July 2025.
The mid and south Essex healthcare system has been preparing ahead of this latest round of strikes, and hospitals and local teams have plans in place to minimise the disruption to patient care and ensure life-saving care continues.
| Support for residents affected by the recent small plane crash in Southend |
| Local support is available for residents who may have witnessed or be affected by the tragic plane crash in Southend on July 13. There is also advice for parents whose children were affected by the incident. |
Decision taken on local community hospital beds and services
Following careful review of all feedback and the evidence presented, NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board has made a decision on community hospital bed provision following a consultation held in 2024. This includes services from St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon.
New digital system helps paramedic save life in Essex
A quick-thinking paramedic and a new digital system have been credited with helping to save a person’s life in Essex.
Lu Harrington, a Senior Clinical Paramedic with East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, responded to a call where vital information was needed. By using the Mid and South Essex Shared Care Record, she was able to access essential details that led to life-saving treatment for a patient.
NHS to support recruitment in working class communities
Southend, Basildon, and Thurrock will receive targeted funding to support NHS careers initiatives aimed at helping individuals who have previously faced barriers to employment.
The government has confirmed the new £5 million national pilot will support an initial 1,000 people nationally from groups or areas worst hit by unemployment into careers in the health service.
New guide co-developed to help patients with severe mental illness with their health
GP practices offer annual physical health checks to patients living with severe mental illness. These health checks provide valuable time with a healthcare professional to review any health issues, medications and lifestyle habits, and to take important tests.
A new patient-friendly resource has been developed to help patients understand the importance of the regular health checks and encourage them to attend.
More than 250,000 patients across mid and south Essex now accessing health information online
More than a quarter of a million people across mid and south Essex are now using Patients Know Best (PKB) to access some of their health information online.
PKB is a secure online platform that lets you see important health information from hospital and mental health services – all in one place. It’s designed to help you stay informed and involved in your care.
Content originally from NHS Mid and South Essex
SWF Health & Social Care Group 