Report this comment
  • "As BSBV are wise and painstaking in their duties I have every confidence that they will assess public reaction including in the local press and at some point explain what will happen to individual specialites in terms the public can understand and assuage everyone's anxieties with detailed guarantees and reassurances if they haven't reached their sell-by date and been disbanded. These changes are being introduced by a Coalition that can't be trusted as in forcing through the unmandated NHS Act in the face of almost universal opposition so it follows that their appointed minions cannot be trusted either. The hospital's profit and loss account seems to fluctuate wildly as a lever to diminish our District General Hospital. Fortunately we have an undisputedly hard-working MP on the case in Tom Brake who reads all the reactions put to him. Whether hard work will be sufficient for success will depend on overall public opinion. Fortunately too we have a Coalition which has corrected come of their amateurish wrong decisions with so called U-turn policy reviews and no doubt they could do this for St. Helier Hospital at the stroke of the right pen."
  • This field is mandatory
  • This field is mandatory
  • Please note we will not accept reports with HTML tags or URLs in them.


  • Enter the above word in the box below

Please be fair, courteous and respectful to the views of others so we can build a vibrant community in a safe online environment. You are personal liable for your comments and action will be taken against anyone who offends, ridicules or posts malicious and damaging views. If you wish to complain, please contact us.

Further blow for St Helier Hospital in its battle to retain vital services

St Helier has suffered a further blow St Helier has suffered a further blow

St Helier Hospital faced another blow this week when a financial appraisal put it head-to-head with Croydon University Hospital to lose its A&E and maternity services.

On Monday the programme board of the Better Services Better Value review concluded that Kingston Hospital is not an option to lose its Accident and Emergency and maternity departments.

St Helier Hospital was recommended by a non-financial scoring panel early in May as the hospital in SW London which should lose the vital services.

The material will be presented in a business case to be considered by the joint boards of SW London Primary Care Trusts in July - a delay on previous indications which stated it would be made on June 7.

The reasons given for the delay are that further work needs to be done on the two options - St Helier or Croydon University Hospital which passed the financial appraisal.

Work on an impact assessment is underway and it is expected that by the end of July, they should be clear on what they are going to consult the public on.

The programme Board also accepted the recommendation that children's wards at three SW London hospitals close and a specialist inpatient childrens’ ward should be at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

When asked for reassurances about the £219m promised to St Helier Hospital’s redevelopment a spokesperson for NHS London said: "There is a firm commitment to redevelop the St Helier site.

"We need further clarity on the outcome of the Better Services Better Value review before a decision can be made on the next steps.

"We are working with the trust and with commissioners in South West London to ensure this happens as soon as possible, but this will not be before the end of May."

The hospital which loses its A&E and maternity will hold a new planned surgery centre and a "range of other services".

Related

Click here for more on our Save St Helier campaign

Click here to sign our Save St Helier campaign petition

Local Businesses

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree