DOCTORS will be leading the decision on any changes A&E departments, according to the Secretary Of State for Health.

Jeremy Hunt also claims that ambulances will continue to go to Southend Hospital for “several years” - but admitted they will be cut in stages.

He wrote to James Duddridge, Tory parliamentary candidate for Rochford and Southend East, as the debate over controversial plans from the Mid and South Essex Success Regime rumble on.

Last weekend, more than 1,000 people joined a rally in Southend High Street to protest against proposals to create a specialist emergency centre at Basildon Hospital. It would mean Southend and Broomfield, in Chelmsford, would be downgraded.

Campaigners from the Save Southend A&E group argue journeys along the often gridlocked A127 and A13 will put lives at risk.

In response to fears, Mr Duddridge has now shared a letter from Mr Hunt reassuring that changes will be “clinically led.”

In the letter, Mr Hunt said: “Any changes to local services have to be proposed by local doctors and can only be implemented if they deliver a clear benefit to patients.

“Southend will remain open 24/7 to those who present themselves at A&E and ambulances.

“Patients and ambulances will only be directed to another A&E if doctors feel there is a clear need and there will be better patient outcomes.”

The letter goes on to state that any changes will only be made “once the community is ready.”

James Duddridge told the Echo he was keen to share the letter in a bid to combat what he described as “scare tactics” by other political parties.

He added: “I’m delighted to receive Jeremy Hunt’s assurances that blue light ambulances will go to Southend and that changes will be clinically lead and not made by politicians.

“It goes to show that Labour scare tactics are just that.”

Labour candidate standing against James Duddridge, Ashley Dalton was sceptical about the letter from Mr Hunt.

She said: "Jeremy Hunt conveniently fails to mention blue light ambulances and expects Rochford and Southend East residents not to notice. 

"None of the proposals include blue light ambulances going to Southend Hospital. This is unacceptable in such a densely populated town with over 6m day visitors a year.

"The 45 minute journey to Basildon will cost lives. This community will never be ready to accept the downgrading of Southend A&E or the loss of vital NHS services in our town."

The Save Southend A&E campaign group were not convinced by Mr Hunt's letter of reassurance to James Duddridge.

Spokeswoman Kate Sheehan said: "The reply from Jeremy Hunt, via James Duddridge, is both confusing and misleading.

"We would first ask where exactly the local clinicians have had a say in the Success Regime Essex plan, as it it was announced over 14 months ago without any input from local clinicians as their original starting proposal.

"The Save Southend campaign are fully aware that local clinicians are not in agreement with any downgrade to Southend A&E and feel that any input, reasoning and concern for patient safety has been ignored whilst the political agenda has continued.

"Once again the phrase ‘ambulances’ is used to falsely reassure the public that this means ‘blue light emergency ambulances’.

"It does not and this is totally misleading to suggest it does. The favoured proposal is that those ambulances drive past Southend A&E to Basildon.

"Save Southend A&E therefore consider this to be election propaganda in preparation for the General Election as yet again it contains no meaningful information, transparency or clarity."