Lib Dems demand that the Government "Put St Helier First"

Following the Government’s “New Hospital Programme” announcement today, Lib Dem Bobby Dean has slammed the Conservatives for yet another delay and has called on the Government to “Put St Helier First”.

The Conservative Government plans to downgrade St Helier Hospital, cutting its A&E and maternity services, and create a new urgent care facility in Belmont, Sutton. However, delay after delay has left St Helier Hospital to deterioriate to a dangerous condition while its future hangs in the balnce.

Today, the Government recommitted to its plan to downgrade St Helier Hospital and announced a further delay to building a new hospital in the borough - as design work for a standardised, modular build is set to hold up the start of works yet again.

Cllr Bobby Dean, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Carshalton & Wallington and Chair of Hackbridge, St Helier and The Wrythe Local Committee, has called for St Helier Hospital to be treated as a special case and untied from the failing national programme.

The Lib Dems are calling for the Government to fast-track the backlog of urgent repair works to St Helier Hospital and to begin work immediately on a new building on the St Helier site - ahead of the national programme and saving A&E and maternity services at the local hospital. 

In a letter to the Health Secretary, Lib Dem Bobby Dean, said:

“Local people have been telling the Conservative Government and local Tory MP for years they do not want A&E and Maternity services to be cut from St Helier Hospital - but this out of touch lot just aren’t listening.

“Today’s announcement is yet another delay and means St Helier Hospital’s future hangs in the balance yet again.

“No money has been spent. No planning application submitted. Just vague promises followed by delay after delay. This is all too familiar for people in Carshalton and Wallington.

“Today’s decision to downgrade the national "new hospitals" programme into a single, cheaper modular design will cause further delays - with design work set to take years. All the while, St Helier Hospital crumbles.

“Enough is enough. It has become clear to all that tying St Helier Hospital to the Conservative Government’s national "new hospitals" programme is proving disastrous. St Helier Hospital is nearly 100 years old and has deteriorated to a dangerous state.

“The Government must Put St Helier First - commit to urgent repair work now and begin work a new building immediately that saves A&E and Maternity services at the site.” 

You can sign the Lib Dems' petition below: