HEALTH campaigners in Maldon say they are “at a loss” as to why discussions over the future of healthcare in the town will take place behind closed doors.

The progress of the proposed Maldon Health Hub project is due to be discussed at a meeting of Maldon District Council’s community services committee on Tuesday.

However, the discussion will be taking place behind closed doors, with the public and press excluded from that aspect of the meeting.

Work is ongoing to decide what the future for the town’s hospital will be.

In January last year it was rebranded the Maldon Health Hub.

The CCG said that it should no longer be referred to as a hospital as there was no guarantee the new facility would include beds.

Working on plans for Home First, which should see more patients return home after a hospital stay, is ongoing.

Trevor Fernandes, chair of the Patient Participation Group at Blackwater Surgery, in Maldon, said he could not understand the council’s decision.

He said: “The usual reasons are that discussions may involve commercial or contractual issues regarding the tendering process for developers.

“We are not at that stage yet, so I am at a loss as to why it is a closed session.”

A spokesman for Maldon District Council said: “The reason for the report being in private and confidential is that the discussions could be commercially sensitive.”