COMMUNITY hospitals in mid Essex will take on new roles as the county grapples with spiralling coronavirus cases. Hospitals in Braintree and Maldon are set to see new, temporary changes in the coming weeks which will see each take in patients from across mid and south Essex. Under plans announced by the Mid and South Essex Health Care Partnership, St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon will help stroke patients continue their rehabilitation. Patients will be moved from a centre in Rochford which is set to take on Covid-19 patients. Meanwhile, a larger intermediate care ward is being set up at Braintree Community Hospital which will be taking some patients from Halstead Community Hospital.