AWAR of words has broken out after an MP blasted managers at Southend Hospital, claiming they were not delivering quality care.

Sir David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, hit at the hierachy at Southend after NHS England announced health watchdog Monitor would oversee health services across Essex.

Sir David said “poor” senior management had been to blame for the hospital going millions of pounds over budget, prompting an investigation by Monitor.

However, Sue Hardy, hospital chief executive, said Sir David had declined several invitations to meet her and hospital staff to see the progress being made.

Sir David said: “I have had grave concerns about the senior management of both these organisations. At long last, the issues that have troubled me are being acted on. In terms of our local NHS Foundation Trusts, my criticisms of the style of the past chief executives and present chief executives, are well known. This highly-expensive service is not delivering the quality of care I would expect for the residents I represent.”

He added: “The staff of Southend Hospital are extremely hard-working and regularly get local residents praising the treatment they have received.

“However, from the management point of view, it would appear expenditure has gone completely out of control and the high use of agency staff has been down to poor senior management.”

Mrs Hardy said: “I am disappointed Sir David has decided to comment in the way he has.

“I have invited Sir David in to meet me on several occasions, both before and after my appointment as chief executive in April this year, and he has declined every invitation.

“Had Sir David accepted one of my invitations, we would have been able to discuss the great improvement Southend has made in our four-hour A&E waiting targets, finishing the year as the best-performing trust in Essex.

“I would also have been able to explain that, although we are running a deficit, it is the smallest deficit of any trust in Essex and was due to the fact we had prioritised patient care.”

She added: “I repeat my request to meet Sir David to discuss these important matters.”

Southend Hospital will fall under a new success regime which will see a programme director oversee all health services in Essex, including GPs and the East of England Ambulance Service.