The Residents Association group of councillors is strongly opposed to proposals set out in the Better Service, Better Value report. These include downgrading Epsom Hospital’s A&E unit to an Urgent Care Centre, despite well-documented pressures on A&E services across the country, and closing the existing maternity unit, which has an excellent track record.

We will continue to support our residents in campaigning against these ill-conceived proposals and we urge the local Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group to reject them when it meets on May 17th and make sure that Epsom Hospital continues to provide the same range of excellent services that it does at present, and which are so valued by residents.

Epsom is a Surrey hospital that serves a wide catchment area across the county. If enacted the proposals would affect residents not just in Epsom & Ewell, but in neighbouring boroughs and districts as well. Consequently we believe that Epsom Hospital's future must be considered primarily within a Surrey context, rather that looking to London, with its particular issues and problems.

Should the Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group decide to allow BSBV to go forward, there must be a meaningful consultation with residents and not just a paper exercise. Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has a role to play as a guardian of this process and we will use our influence to ensure that there is real engagement with our residents over this key issue for our community.

Over the past 10 years Epsom Hospital has been subject to numerous reviews and proposals, which have created great uncertainty amongst patients and staff and have cost the public purse huge amounts of money.

As well as seeking guarantees that residents of Epsom and Ewell and neighbouring boroughs will be able to access the health services they need in the years to come, we hope that local GP fund-holders will be seeking assurances that the hospital's future is one based on certainty and stability.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge
Chairman, Residents Association group of councillors
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council