THE mayor of Basildon has pledged her support to the under-fire Basildon Hospital saying the right people are in place to turn its fortunes around.

Mo Larkin visited the hospital on Thursday afternoon to speak with Chief Executive Clare Panniker after it was announced that the hospital was under inspection by the government because of its high death rates.

She said the hospital should not be judged until a report has been released and it is under a lot of pressure since departments at nearby Orsett Hospital, including the maternity and A&E units, were shut.

Mrs Larkin said: “The meeting with Clare went very well indeed and I was very impressed with her vision for the hospital. She has only been there since September and these problems cannot be changed overnight. Rest assured she has got her finger on the pulse.”

She continued: “The hospital has my full support and I know the right steps are being taken to address the concerns that have been flagged up.”