Standing up for Sutton

Last week, I visited St Helier Hospital to see the challenges faced by staff trying to care for their patients in a crumbling building that is way past its sell by date. 

As a child , I lived in North Cheam and the St Helier building loomed large on the skyline. At that time it was a modern hospital, just over 20 years old. Today, the building is still clearly visible from where I now  live in Carshalton, but can no longer be called modern. Like many residents of Sutton, St Helier has played a huge role in my life, it was where my children were all born and I know that we all want the fantastic services it provides to our local community to continue.

During my visit, I was able to see first-hand the decaying state of the building and the difficulties caused by overcrowding and unsuitable wards. It is not acceptable that the staff and patients of St Helier, many of whom are residents of our borough, should have to work and be looked after in such conditions. We deserve better and our doctors, nurses, medical and administrative staff are worthy of having a decent hospital where they can care for us all.

In 2019, the then Government said £500 million was going to be spent in Sutton as part of the New Hospital Programme. The current Government now says that money never existed.

We want our hospital services at St Helier, including A&E and maternity, to be fit for the 21st century. The new Government must urgently confirm the funding that will allow this to happen. 

The Council has an excellent working relationship with the local NHS and we all agree on one thing and that is the money to provide a new building must be clearly announced in the Chancellor’s budget statement that is coming up on the 30th of October. Promises are no longer enough. St Helier is crumbling around us and the improvements need to start happening now.  

Leader of the Council,
Councillor Barry Lewis