'Epsom Hospital must not close'

Edward Davey MP responds to NHS local hospital consultation

2.12.04

The Better Healthcare, Closer to Home public consultation on the delivery of health services in Sutton, Merton, East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey has received a strongly-worded submission from Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton. The consultation included proposals to close Epsom Hospital, an option that would penalise large numbers of residents in Chessington who currently use Epsom Hospital, and would have significant knock-on effects at Kingston Hospital.

Edward Davey submitted a forthright response to the consultation in time for the deadline for responses of 30th November. In it he put the case for Epsom Hospital, demanding not only that it stay open but also that the hospital retain at least some of the A&E and minor injury services and that assistance is given to Kingston Hospital in case of any knock-on effects.

Commenting, Edward Davey MP said,

'After having to fight to ensure that Kingston would be given a voice in this consultation, I am pleased to have been able to make the Borough's case so strongly.

'In my response I have also criticised the poor communication that left my constituents uninformed and unaware of the proposed changes that could have a significant impact on their everyday lives. Once they were informed of the proposed fate of Epsom Hospital, people signed the petition in their hundreds.

'There is a very strong depth of feeling about the possible closure or downsizing of Epsom, and I reflected this in my response to the consultation.

'The affects of these proposals will not be confined to Merton, Sutton and Mid Surrey but will have direct impact on Kingston. It is therefore vital that our points are taken on board.'

In his response to the consultation, he commented,

'The proposals are based on an unproven and contentious idea - that the new local care hospitals will provide the quality services proposed , and will not suffer the fate of past community hospitals - namely, will become first in the firing line for the next generation of cuts.

'With the population in South West London rising and local traffic congestion increasing, I remain to be convinced that cutting back the number of acute beds, closing hospitals and having only one critical care hospital for this area is a sensible, sustainable strategy, and I am worried about the effects on neighbouring hospitals.'