Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust has announced a cash boost of £742,000 for emergency care which will fund an additional team of six doctors and two new acute medical units.

Allocated from the hospital’s annual budget, the team of doctors, who will be based across Epsom and St Helier, will be supported by nurses, therapists and other healthcare workers and will be available to assess seriously ill or injured patients as soon as they are admitted to hospital.

Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins said: "I am absolutely delighted to announce this fantastic investment.

"It will allow us to take a whole new, fresh approach to the emergency care we are providing to our patients and will mean that everyone receives the highest level of care faster than ever before.

"As a Trust, we are passionate about moving forward and making continual improvements to the care we’re providing for local people.

"By making these changes, we’ll be able to modernise the way that we work and make sure patients get the very best from us during their hour of need."

Two acute medical units will also be created at Epsom and St Helier allowing patients to be seen and discharged more efficiently by directing patients to the most suitable course of treatment, depending on the severity of their condition.

This will include assessment units where patients who need further examinations or treatment before being discharged will be seen, a short stay area for patients who need to stay in hospital for one to three nights, and an ambulatory care area, which treats patients with minor injuries or illnesses who do not need to stay overnight.

Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell said: "I am delighted to hear about this new investment at the hospitals and of the innovative changes being put in place to improve the care local people receive.

"Being ill isn’t nice, so it’s important people get seen by the most senior clinicians as quickly as possible."

Ted Gates MBE, the chair of Sutton’s local patient group, Local Involvement Network (LINks) added: "We are very pleased to hear that additional senior doctors are joining our local hospital, and we fully support any initiative that gives patients quicker access to the specialist care."

For more information visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk