The biggest story while we were away is the U-turn that means that Southend A&E will NOT be downgraded.
As the Save Southend A&E website put it:
In less than 4 months since our Save Southend A&E campaign launched, we have rapidly secured huge public support and awareness of the proposals to close the doors to 999 emergency ambulance admissions at Southend Hospital A&E. These proposals would have undoubtedly cost the lives of local residents if we had allowed the future public consultation to slip by, un-noticed.
This monumental U-turn by the Mid and South Essex Success Regime bears testament to the incredible power of ordinary people, united as a community to achieve a common goal.
People still need to be vigilant, but this a big success. The proposal was opposed by the lead A&E clinicians at Southend AND Basildon AND Chelmsford.