Surbiton Hospital “may be saved by local GPs”

MP meets GPs and PCT in key talks for hospital future

23.01.06

Last Friday Edward Davey, Lib Dem, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, met with nearly 30 local GPs and several senior managers from Kingston’s PCT at Surbiton Hospital to discuss its future.

Edward Davey had called the meeting to explore how local GPs might work together to provide new health services from the hospital, as one way to safeguard its future. The meeting was extremely positive – with a steering group of local GPs taking on the task of working up new plans with the PCT. The focus of the work will be new services that could start there within a few months, but linked into the consultation on the longer term vision for the hospital already being prepared by Kingston’s PCT.

Commenting on the meeting, Edward Davey said:

“I was delighted by the positive response of so many Surbiton and Tolworth GPs to this initiative to save Surbiton Hospital.

“The commitment of local GPs to keeping Surbiton Hospital and to improving the healthcare services for local people is impressive.

“Our meeting discussed practical ideas for how Surbiton Hospital may effectively be saved by local GPs, and I was extremely encouraged by their positive response.

“It’s clear that GPs across Kingston want to work together, and are already talking about forming a group such as a co-operative to provide primary healthcare services. The availability of space at Surbiton Hospital may even help that happen.

“It is early days, but with the energy and imagination of local doctors on our side, I’m more hopeful that we can find some way forward over the next few weeks and months.”