COUNCILLORS have expressed concern about the validity of a cut in the number of people waiting for treatment at local hospitals including Basildon.

Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, which runs the hospital and others in Southend and Chelmsford, has reported more than 14,000 cases have been cut from its waiting list in the space of a year, although more than 165,000 remain.

The elective waiting list fell from 179,229 in August 2025 to 165,227 in August this year.

The reduction of 14,002 cases will be reported to Southend councillors next Tuesday (3 November), with NHS bosses attributing the progress to additional capacity, checks on whether patients still require treatment and more effective use of technology.

However, councillors will seek assurances over when patients can be removed from waiting lists if they fail to respond to calls or letters.

Samantha Goldberg, the trust's executive director of commercial, estates and resilience, said: "We are encouraged by the reduction in the waiting list but recognise there is more to do.

"Progress has been supported by additional elective capacity, improved validation and new community pathways which help patients receive the right care without unnecessary hospital referrals.

"Our focus over winter is to maintain this momentum, prioritise those waiting longest and continue improving access for patients."

Southend's health scrutiny committee has asked health bosses to explain the safeguards surrounding the removal of patients who cannot be contacted.

The trust says patients are only removed under strict rules contained in its Patient Access Policy, introduced in November 2025.

Patients can be removed after rejecting two appointment dates offered with at least three weeks' notice, although staff must take account of periods when patients have said they are unavailable, including because of travel.

Where a patient cannot be contacted, staff must make at least two phone calls on different days and at different times.

If there is still no response, a letter is sent giving the patient two weeks to make contact and warning they could be discharged back to their GP.

The trust says contact details are checked and additional care is taken with vulnerable patients before removal.

Since the end of August, it has also been contacting people on its waiting lists to establish whether they still require their appointment or procedure.

Patients with an email address are directed to the Patient Knows Best online portal, while those without one receive two calls followed by a letter if necessary.

The trust says patients are removed only after attempts to contact them have been exhausted. And adds if a patient is subsequently restored to the waiting list, their original waiting time is taken into account when arranging treatment.