Epsom is to have a new look hospital - but it could be on a much smaller site than the present Epsom General Hospital if hospital land is sold off to fund part of the development.
Patients are going to have a long wait for their new hospital even if planning goes smoothly and funds are available. It is anticipated that it could open in 2016.
At a public meeting held at Epsom Town Hall last week officials from Epsom and St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust said they wanted to spend £70m on the hospital - possibly more if funding was available from charitable or other sources but they admitted that they did not have the money in the bank.
It is still not known precisely what is planned for the Epsom site but the options have been narrowed and several of them under consideration involve selling off large parts of the site - up to 60 per cent - to fund the development.
One of the options includes bringing both the New Epsom Cottage Hospital, Leatherhead Community Hospital and some health services at present community based onto the site to create a “health village”. It would include transferring rehabilitation services to Epsom.
Most of the options under consideration include a mix of refurbishment, upgrading of existing buildings and some new build.
All the schemes involve vacating the Langley Wing with the closure of all mental health beds at Epsom and the transfer of other beds to the Wells Wing.
Although it is still not known precisely how the new hospital will be configured there have been pledges that maternity, children’s services and accident and emergency services will remain at Epsom.
It is a long complex process before the final plans are drawn up, gain approval and finance obtained which could be through a mix of sources including money from the sale of land and private finance.
It is likely that trust officials will soon start sounding out possible bidders prepared to put up the money for the Epsom Hospital rebuild.
After the meeting chief executive of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Samantha Jones said: "The development of a vision for Epsom Hospital is the first step to a major multi-million pound investment into the site, helping to ensure we have the right buildings and infrastructure in place to meet the future needs of the people of Epsom and surrounding areas.
“While there is still a lot of work to do, including receiving all the necessary approvals and, more importantly, securing the funding, it is extremely good news for the site.”
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