The five clinical commission groups in mid and south Essex have launched a formal public consultation on outline plans for the future of health and care services.

The groups say the proposals are a result of detailed work undertaken by clinical teams across health and care organisations to improve the services provided to the 1.2 million people living in mid and south Essex.

The Joint Committee of the CCGs on Thursday gave approval to begin consultation on proposals.

These include making improvements in A&E at all three hospitals (Southend, Basildon, and Broomfield in Chelmsford) with the development of new assessment and treatment centres. All three A&Es will be led by a consultant, open 24 hours a day and will receive “blue light” ambulances.

A new specialist stroke centre at Basildon Hospital is also proposed along with bringing together in one place some specialist inpatient care and separating some planned operations from emergency cases.

Dr Caroline Dollery, GP and chairman of Mid Essex CCG, said: “The public consultation is an important next stage in the work we have been doing together to develop and build a health and care system fit for the future for the people of mid and south Essex and provide them with a further opportunity to give us their views to help shape the proposals. This is not a final decision to implement any of the changes described, which would only happen after the consultation with our local communities has finished and the feedback independently analysed.”

Dr Celia Skinner, chief medical officer for the three hospitals added: “These proposals set out our ambition to reorganise services across our hospital sites in Basildon, Chelmsford, Southend and Orsett so that we are working together to deliver the best services we can. We welcome the public consultation as it represents the next opportunity to discuss these proposals more formally with local people.”

Full details of the proposals and the ways in which people can get involved are available at nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk