MP Paul Burstow has said a healthcare review which recommended St Helier Hospital loses its vital services is based on the “hopes and fantasies” of an NHS body.
Two weeks ago an NHS review panel recommended St Helier Hospital loses its accident and emergency and maternity departments.
A panel of 60 representatives made up from SW London hospital trusts, local authority members and community representatives recommended St Helier lose its frontline services over Croydon University and Kingston hospital.
They scored each hospital as part of the Better Service, Better Value healthcare review, which announced two months ago one of the hospitals faced the cuts.
Sutton and Cheam MP and Government health minister, Paul Burstow, visited St Helier Hospital on Friday, May 18, to hear what staff had to say about a recommendation to close vital services.
Mr Burstow said: “It’s always good to meet and listen to the hardworking staff at St Helier, and there is no-one better to talk to if you want to find out what the impact of closing our A&E department and maternity unit at St Helier will be.
“For example, most people won’t realise that sick children rarely go to hospital in an ambulance – they’re usually taken to hospital in their parents’ car.
“Those precious extra minutes driving to Tooting rather than to St Helier make all the difference, especially when we may not know how ill our child is.
“This entire review has been based on the hopes and fantasies of NHS South West London, rather than the practicalities and realities that affect ordinary people.
"The evidence I heard from staff at St Helier really brings this home, and I will continue to fight to ensure that their voices are heard.”
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