Health bosses have been warned that an appeal may be forwarded to the Secretary of State if they refuse to keep a ward open at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

Two of the three wards originally earmarked for closure at the end of March are to stay open, but Mid Essex Community Health Council (CHC) said the situation at the hospital had not improved and the third ward was still needed.

Linda Tubb, deputy chief officer for the CHC, said if Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust did not take action before the CHC's next public meeting on Monday they would forward the appeal.

She said: "We were going to do this before but they persuaded us not to appeal. They said the situation would improve, but in fact it's got worse.

"Quite often the appeal is just enough for it to put more pressure on."

The Trust said: "We are working with social services and North Essex Health Authority to address the rise in delayed discharges so more beds can be made available for patients who need acute hospital care.

"We are also working with the health authority, which is reviewing the total number of beds in Mid Essex and to ensure the correct number of beds at Broomfield."

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