Concerned patients packed out a meeting to have their say on plans to change how some beds at Braintree Community Hospital are used.

More than 80 people attended an event at Braintree Baptist Church to express concerns about the mid Essex clinical commissioning group’s plans to introduce a “home first” approach from 2018.

As part of the plans, the CCG is aiming to use the theatres at Braintree Community Hospital for more orthopaedic surgery and change the way beds are used on the Courtauld ward to accommodate this.

According to figures more than 500 patients have been waiting more than 18 weeks for orthopaedic surgeries at Broomfield Hospital.

It is hoped the changes will reduce the backlog but there are not enough beds for these patients and the ones already using them.

Under the home first plans these people will instead be given “the opportunity” to rehabilitate and recover at home instead, or be moved to a nursing home or hospitals in Maldon or Halstead.

Professor Chris Green, chairman of the Friends of Braintree Community Hospital, said: “We have got 26 beds on the Courtauld ward and they want to reuse or re-designate these beds by February 2018.

"They are looking to relocate the patients but there were questions about the viability of the two locations - Maldon has a lot of refurbishment going on.”

There was also concern about the impact travelling to the alternative sites would have on patients and their relatives.

He added: “These people have not got cars and would be further away. We know the rural bus service is being cut. There are a lot of concerns which won’t go away.”

The process runs for ten weeks with the next meeting on November 7 at Plume Academy in Maldon.

Prof Green said: “I think it is important for people to go along and express their views. If no one did they wouldn’t be heard.”

The chairman of Mid Essex CCG has apologised for confusion surrounding the plans for Home First.

Dr Caroline Dollery said: “We were really pleased the meeting in Braintree was so well attended – we want to encourage lots of people to get involved and we want to hear about what matters most in order to make sure we get our service right.

“I am sorry for any confusion that may have preceded the meeting regarding consultation or engagement.

“While we felt that our material publicising the evening did explain the purpose of the event, we have taken feedback on board and will ensure this is explained more clearly at future events.

“We do, however, want people to get involved - we haven’t finalised plans for how we will introduce Home First.”

It had been hoped the events would form part of a consultation but instead it appears the meetings are more about how it will work rather than whether it will happen.

She said: “The purpose of us running a comprehensive engagement process is so everyone has the chance to input to the model and we can capture factors that matter most.

"One of the themes that came through strongly on Tuesday was the concern around transport links to alternative settings of care, and the impact on carers.

"We will ensure accessibility is included as a key factor in determining location of nursing home beds.

"Other themes will emerge which we will similarly take account of.”

She added the “clinical evidence” supported Home First.