St Helier prepares plans to save key services (From Sutton Guardian)

St Helier prepares plans to save key hospital services

7:30am Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in News By Matt Watts

Paul Burstow MP and Minister for Care Services (far left), St Helier Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins (second left) and Nigel Edwards, Senior Fellow for the King’s Fund (second right) with other colleagues from the King’s Fund

St Helier Hospital is preparing alternative options for its long term future that would avoid the closure of its accident and emergency departments.

More than 40 doctors, nurses and other staff, from the hospital's trust,as well as local GPs, councillors, patients and representatives from other NHS organisations, met on Friday to discuss a plan to save the under-threat services at the hospital.

The meeting held in partnership with health think-tank The King’s Fund was organised in the wake of St George's Hospital withdrawing their bid to merge with St Helier earlier this year.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust must soon find an alternative financial plan that will allow it to meet the Government target of becoming a foundation trust by 2014.

The meeting took on greater significance after it emerged a string of vital services - including St Helier's children's ward, A&E and maternity services -were under threat as part of the NHS's Better Service, Better Value (BSBV) review.

The hospital is drawing up a plan that allows it to gain a financially sustainable future that includes the key services. Plans include looking at whether other NHS services could be brought onto the site to maximise the benefits to patients and improve efficiency, including GPs helping to assess patients that come to hospital.

Friday's seminar was the first in a series of planned meetings ahead of the hospital publishing a list of possible options for the long term future of St Helier by July.

The hospital wants the options on the table before the NHS SW London makes a decision on whether to move forward with its plans to axe the frontline service at St Helier by going out to public consultation.

Matthew Hopkins, Trust Chief Executive said: "The decision by St George’s not to ‘bid’ to merge with St Helier means we need to look at other options to ensure the hospital can continue to deliver the best and most efficient services for its patients and local people in the long term.

"We are facing tough financial times and need to think innovatively about what we can do to ensure our services are sustainable in the years to come.

"The recommendation put forward by the BSBV review (for the future of St Helier) is just one way of thinking and, importantly, it is still subject to a formal public consultation. As such, we continue to plan for all eventualities."

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton Cheam said: "The BSBV review has put forward an option for the future of St Helier. However, I don’t believe it is in the best interest of local people, patients and the hospital’s staff.

"Therefore, it’s good to see the trust working with its own doctors and nurses, as well as local GPs, councillors, patient groups and NHS partners to find a better, more patient-centred long term option."

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