Campaigners hope the withdrawal of a key stakeholder from the Better Service Better Vale (BSBV) review will be "the final nail in the coffin" for the controversial proposals.

Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), one of seven CCGs involved in BSBV, announced its withdrawal from the programme this afternoon amid fears it would not be good for patients.

Both Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake and Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow as well as Sutton Council leader Ruth Dombey have called for the end of BSBV in light of the news.

The BSBV review proposes to axe A&E services from St Helier and Epsom hospitals. All six of south west London's CCGs have given BSBV their backing but Surrey Downs CCG, the last group to vote, has withdrawn from the process after only 25 per cent of its members gave the project their backing in a poll this week.

The move leaves the future for BSBV unclear. The remaining CCGs in the process have issued a statement saying they are "taking stock" of the situation and will bring forward new proposals.
It appears highly unlikely Epsom Hospital could be involved in any future BSBV plans in SW London without the support of its local clinicians.

Epsom was included in the proposals earlier this year after a failed demerger of Epsom and St Helier Hospitals.

The original BSBV proposals for SW London, before Epsom Hospital’s involvement, had involved only St Helier Hospital losing its A&E and maternity unit, and Croydon University, St George’s and Kingston Hospitals having improved A&E and maternity units.

BSBV could look to return to their original proposals. But campaigners hope it could galvanise GPS in Sutton to rescind their support for BSBV.

The borough's MPs have joined forces to send every GP in the area a letter and secret ballot paper asking then to say whether they think BSBV should continue. Doctors will mark their ballots anonymously and they will be counted independently with the result coming at the end of November.

Mr Brake said: "This must be the final nail in the BSBV coffin. With Surrey Downs out it must be the end of the process.

Your Local Guardian: Carshalton and Wallington Lib Dem candidate Tom Brake

"We now have to put a focus on securing the long term future of St Helier Hospital and the services it provides."

Mr Burstow said: "BSBV has been a dead man walking for some time and this result is, frankly, another nail in this sorry saga's coffin. I'm delighted that GPs in Epsom have voted this way cos it explodes the lie that this is clinically driven and that it can only be one way."

Councillor Dombey added: ""I am delighted that Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group has voted to withdraw from the Better Services, Better Value (BSBV) programme.

Your Local Guardian: Councillor Ruth Dombey calls plans "a recipe for disaster"

"The CCG’s vote is confirmation that BSBV is deeply flawed – both clinically and financially. Frankly, the process should be abandoned immediately to save the waste of any more public money.

"I have said all along that BSBV was never the answer, but I acknowledge that a review of services is necessary.

"I hope that Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group will take stock of this decision before deciding what next steps to take.

"We are ready to work closely with the CCG to find a way forward".

A spokesman for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals said they will await the decision of the CCGs they commission services for.

The CCGs released a statement on Surrey Down’s CCG’s withdrawal earlier today.