AN anonymous whistle-blower has revealed that the inpatient ward at Braintree Community Hospital could be set to close.

The Times was contacted by a member of the public claiming that discussions were currently ongoing about the future of the Courtauld Ward at the hospital, in Chadwick Drive.

Braintree Community Hospital’s Courtauld Ward is a 24 bed facility providing rehabilitation and end of life care for adults. It also offers day admission for patients undergoing medical transfusions.

The whistle-blower claimed the plans could see ten beds closed by as soon as September before the rest were closed by the turn of the year.

The caller expressed serious concerns saying there was “no alternative service in the community” for people that use the ward.

Dr Caroline Dollery, chair of Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), denied there were plans to close any part of Braintree Community Hospital.

She said: “It is very much in the interests of people to offer care from this excellent facility and the CCG is fully committed to services being provided there into the future.

“There have been wide discussions across mid and south Essex about the future of hospital services and these discussions will continue.

“Any potential options for services changing will be published for public consultation later in the year.”

The Courtauld Ward is currently managed by Provide.

Professor Christopher Green, chairman of the Friends of Braintree Community Hospital, said the group would expect any changes to go through a full consultation process involving the public.

He said: “We are raising questions not only about the CCG’s strategic plan, or lack of it, but about the public consultation on the Success Regime which should have started some time ago.

“The friends of the hospital continue to welcome discussions with Mid Essex Hospitals Trust and we will expect to have discussions on the hospital in the future.”