The Southend Labour group has demanded to know how a raft of changes in local NHS care are set to be funded.

The Mid and South Essex Success Regime will shortly publish a public consultation of the changes which will include moving some hospital services into the community.

The regime also wants to educate patients on how to improve their own health to avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

However, Labour councillors say repeated requests for information on how the changes will be funded have fallen on deaf ears.

Chas Willis, Westborough ward councillor and Southend Labour’s health spokesperson on Southend Council, said: “Labour councillors in Southend requested publication of all relevant information on those changes to our NHS and social care system so that local residents could make informed comments and possibly oppose the options in the consultation to be carried out by the unfortunately named ‘Success Regime’. That request was made over six months ago, but nothing has been made available to the public.

“Knowing how much money the Government is prepared to provide to fund the provision of their ‘new and innovative’ services is a key part of the process.”

Andy Vowles, programme director for the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, said: “We have been discussing emerging proposals with local people since March 1 last year and have published several updates in the last few months

“In all of our discussions, we have explained that we are planning the next five years of health and care based on the assumption that our funding level will remain broadly the same, with an uplift for inflation. In addition, we are in discussion with colleagues nationally about additional capital that might be available for investment locally.”