Sutton North Lib Dem Councillors

Cllr Sam Cumber, Cllr Ruth Dombey and Chris Hawton working hard for Sutton North all year round Learn more

Have your say on the future of Sutton’s hospital services

by Sam, Ruth and Chris on 20 September, 2017

Daniel Elkeles, Chief Exec of the Epsom and St Helier Trust, told the recent Sutton Local Committee about the consultation they are running on the future of acute A&E services.  See their web site.

At the meeting Mr Elkeles told us that St Helier has the best A&E performance in the south east.  The two hospitals are performing very well and offer a high standard of care, but he is concerned that the poor standard of the buildings, especially St Helier, puts this at risk.

The Trust is currently consulting on a proposal to develop a new acute services centre at either Epsom, St Helier or the Sutton (Belmont) site.  They are not (yet) consulting on the location, just on the principle, before they put a case to government for funding.  The acute services unit would cover all complex surgical and medical cases, acute A&E, acute maternity, etc.  It would account for around 15% of the most complex cases.  Other cases would continue to be treated at Epsom and St Helier, both of which would continue to have ‘routine’ A&E units.  St Helier has already started a programme of refurbishment and this would continue.

Mr Elkeles said the current arrangements cannot continue. Specialist acute services need to be brought together to improve medical care and save money.  This will provide extra space at St Helier to improve conditions for patients there.  He said that currently the beds in St Helier are too close together, and they need to be better spaced apart to reduce infection risks.

There were lots of questions from residents, so please look at the consultation web site and let them have your views before consultation closes on 30 September.

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