Search

Poor Health Outcomes: Failure to Deliver New Hospital in Surrey

Poor Health Outcomes In Surrey
1694606389493

Helen Maguire BEM

Prospective Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Epsom and Ewell

The National Health Service (NHS) is meant to provide essential healthcare services to millions. However, in Epsom & Ewell, the state of healthcare, as illustrated by the poor condition of St Helier hospital, highlights a dire need for immediate action.

Seriously ill patients from my constituency in Epsom are regularly diverted to St Helier for specialist emergency care. Yet, St Helier is a crumbling 1930’s hospital that is bursting at the seams and regularly has to issue warnings about overcrowding.

The answer from our local health professionals is to build a new emergency care hospital in Sutton – one which is not only closer to Epsom but also will enable both Epsom Hospital, and St Helier, to be upgraded, to provide their local communities with better care facilities,

But the Government has failed to get on with building the new hospital, which has led to poorer care outcomes highlighted recently with patients, like Janet, facing excruciating delays and substandard care.

Health crisis unveiled: Janet’s Ordeal at Epsom Hospital

Janet, an 86-year-old lady was admitted to her local A&E at Epsom General earlier this year because of sudden abdominal pain and vomiting. She was diagnosed with an acute condition which required treatment by the emergency surgical team. However, the emergency surgery team is based at St Helier rather than Epsom.

She was eventually transferred to St Helier Hospital A&E after 12 hours on a trolley. When she arrived, there were no A&E cubicles, no trolleys nor inpatient beds. She remained on an ambulance trolley for three hours before an A&E bed became available. She was eventually transferred from her trolley to a bed in a ward over 30 hours after she first came under hospital care.

Janet’s case highlights the unacceptable shortcoming in health provision for those of us who live in Epsom & Ewell, Ashtead, and Leatherhead. Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has fewer hospital beds per 1,000 people than all the major European countries of the EU and non-European countries like Chile and Colombia. In fact, the Epsom & Ewell Trust fares even worse than the UK average (2.43 beds per 1,000 people), with just 1.9 beds per thousand people (Germany has 7.82 beds per 1,000 people). This shortage is not just a statistic – it’s a daily reality for patients like Janet left waiting for a bed on a trolley.

The Government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 offered hope for improved healthcare infrastructure nationwide. Epsom and St Helier Trust was stated to be one of these new hospitals, with £500 million pledged for its development. However, despite the promise, tangible progress remains elusive. Planning permission is yet to be secured, and delays associated with adopting standardised designs have only exacerbated the situation and building inflation has soared in the meantime.

The sorry state of St Helier hospital paints a grim picture of the challenges faced daily by patients and healthcare professionals. Dilapidated buildings, leaking roofs, makeshift repairs, and overcrowding are just a few of the issues plaguing the hospital. Janet’s ordeal, waiting for over 30 hours on a trolley, epitomizes the systemic failures undermining the quality of care.

The deficiencies extend beyond infrastructure to the core functions of the hospital. Inadequate A&E capacity, prolonged wait times, overburdened ambulance services, and insufficient community support contribute to a healthcare system on the brink of collapse. The strain on clinical staff is immense, with unrealistic targets and organisational hurdles further impeding effective care delivery.

shutterstock 191114138 2

Urgent reforms needed to safeguard Healthcare in Epsom & Ewell:

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The shortage of hospital beds in Epsom & Ewell, underscores the need for immediate intervention. The recent CQC report on St Helier hospital said that it’s services require improvement, highlighting the imperative for investment in the estate. However, mere rhetoric is insufficient; tangible steps must be taken to address the root causes of the crisis – which is the failure to get things done.

The state of the NHS in Epsom & Ewell is emblematic of broader systemic issues plaguing healthcare delivery in the UK. The time for action is now. Delayed promises and bureaucratic hurdles should not stand in the way of urgently needed reforms. The construction of the new emergency care hospital in Sutton is not merely an aspiration but a critical imperative to safeguarding the health and well-being of our community. It is time for the government to deliver on its commitments and provide certainty, to people like Janet, for a healthier future.

The Liberal Democrats passed a motion at their spring conference on this issue – F14- 40 new hospitals, the governments broken promise: https://www.libdems.org.uk/conference/motions/spring-2024/f14

At Chamber UK, we connect the council to the commons, to read more about issues facing local councils click here to read our latest article about central government funding and subscribe to our newsletter.

Share

Related Topics

Latest

Trump’s Ukraine Deal: What It Means for the UK

Donald Trump’s latest diplomatic manoeuvres have sent shockwaves through Europe. With plans for direct peace talks with Vladimir Putin, the former US president appears willing to push Ukraine into territorial concessions. But what does this mean for the UK? From military strategy to diplomatic alliances, Britain now faces a critical test of its role in European security. With NATO unity at stake and Ukraine’s sovereignty hanging by a thread, the UK must decide whether to step up or risk being sidelined.

Labour’s £350 Million Housing Boost: Will It Solve the Crisis?

Labour has announced a £350 million investment to boost affordable housing and tackle rogue landlords. Sir Keir Starmer, in Buckinghamshire, unveiled plans for 100 new towns, calling it the largest housebuilding drive since the post-war era. While welcomed, concerns remain over planning and labour shortages. Will this be a true housing revolution or just a temporary fix?

Video Features

Health and Social Care Reforms: Facing the Challenges, Building the Future

Revolutionising Healthcare Diagnostics: A Call to Arms

NHS & Life Sciences: Harnessing Innovation For Global Health

Screening and Diagnostics: Advancing the Frontiers of Healthcare

Subscribe to our newsletter for your free digital copy of the journal!

Receive our latest insights, future journals as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Never miss an issue by subcribing to our newsletter!

Receive our latest insights and all future journals as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Never miss an issue by subcribing to our newsletter!

Receive our latest insights and all future journals as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Newsletter Signup

Receive our latest insights as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.