The Government has today announced £20 billion in funding for the New Hospital Programme. This funding will be invested in building new hospitals and confirms that the work on the new Specialist and Emergency Care Hospital for the Epsom & St Helier University Trust, as well as urgently needed improvement and redevelopment works at St Helier Hospital can now progress.
These plans will see all hospital services, including A&E and maternity, protected in Sutton, rather than moved out of Borough, as well as new services, such as cancer surgery, provided at the new site.
The Department for Health and Social Care has also confirmed that there will be a new standardised approach to hospital delivery, called Hospital 2.0, which will make hospitals fit for the future using technology and modern methods of construction. This will drive efficiencies of up to 25% and decrease overall development timescales and costs. Both the new hospital and the redevelopment of St Helier and Epsom hospitals will benefit from this approach.
The new hospitals will put patients and staff at the centre of their plans, with improved patient care through modern designs, creating single rooms ensuring maximum natural light and outdoor spaces.
Commenting, Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, said:
“I am delighted with today’s announcement. We will all have seen media reports of disrepair at St Helier. The local NHS has been clear that they were awaiting this announcement so that they could carry out their plans. I am pleased that the Government has listening to the lobbying from myself and colleagues about the urgent need for this announcement.
“This will allow the local NHS Trust to continue urgent maintenance work at St Helier, as well as start work on the new Specialist and Emergency Care Hospital Sutton. Once completed, local residents will have access to improved facilities that ensure better patient care and safety.
“As recently as this week I was pressing Ministers on the urgent need to get the ball rolling in a debate on local healthcare. I was born in St Helier, many of my family were born in St Helier, and not so long ago it saved my life. This is a deeply personal campaign for me, and I will continue to press Ministers to ensure these plans are carried out as effectively and timely as possible.”
Commenting, Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam, said:
“In years past we’ve had years of empty political slogans and warm words on St Helier, but today is another demonstration that we are determined to listen to our local NHS and allow them to progress their plans.
“This is a plan not made by politicians or bureaucrats, but our local NHS. Today is the green light to progress the plans and gives confidence to patients and staff that they will be delivered.
“Since being elected in 2015, I have campaigned for a long-term solution to the future of our hospitals, helped by Elliot since 2019. I am delighted that now we’re even closer to achieving that and securing St Helier and Sutton’s place in our community for decades to come.”
