A hospital boss has moved to quell fears that all elderly frail Billericay patients will be forced to travel miles on public transport for treatment.

The head of Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals Trust has spoken out after older patients complained about the lengthy trek to Orsett Hospital.

Billericay Town Council's transport working party wrote to the Trust raising concerns about the journey to the hospital from the town. This can involve up to three changes of bus and a cost of about £7.

The system was discriminating against old people without cars or their own transport, councillors claimed.

But in a letter to town clerk Gwynneth Moylan, trust chief executive Sue Jennings said it was possible in extreme cases for a doctor to arrange ambulance car transport to the hospital for some elderly patients.

She said: "It is unfortunate for the elderly residents of Billericay that Orsett Hospital is where most orthopaedic clinics are held.

"Wherever possible, our out-patient staff do try to accommodate patients with their appointments and nearest hospital request if appropriate to the clinic.

"I would like to reassure the residents that our first priority is that of time and it is for the patient's benefit only that they are given the earliest possible appointment date regardless of the hospital site.

"If patients wish to come to a clinic that is held at Basildon Hospital it may mean a longer waiting time for an appointment, which would not be in their best interest."

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