Doctors have hit back after an accusation they have put the future of St Helier hospital at risk.

Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh has accused doctors leading a review into care in south-west London of overstating the need to move services from hospitals into the community.

She said they had contributed to the collapse of a planned merger between St Helier, near Sutton, and St George’s in Tooting, which had left huge questions over St Helier’s future.

But a letter signed by 28 Sutton and Merton GPs said: "We all feel it is most unjust to blame local GPs for the historic financial challenges facing our local hospitals."

The letter argued the Better Services Better Value review was working towards keeping people well in their own homes and treating them in the community, something better for patients and NHS finances.

It said: “We hope Ms McDonagh can appreciate that GPs will always try and keep patients well enough to stop them being admitted to hospital.

"I hope your readers would agree that this is a good thing, and also acknowledge this is not the reason for St George’s pulling out of the merger with St Helier.”

Ms McDonagh said figures showed rising demand for A&E and maternity services at St Helier and its neighbouring hospitals – and added it was often more practical for her patients to access care at a hospital than through their GP.

A meeting of the St Helier transaction board took place last week, with health bosses proposing that £57 million worth of cuts should be made.

That letter in full

"We are disappointed at Siobhain McDonagh MP's comments that blame local GPs for St George's Hospital pulling out of the merger with St Helier.

"Whilst Ms McDonagh may not agree with the government's policy to put GPs in charge of commissioning health services we all feel it is most unjust to blame local GPs for the historic financial challenges facing our local hospitals.

"The shift to care out of hospitals and into the community is no different in scale in Sutton and Merton than it is in other parts of south west London and the rest of the country.

"As GPs we are keen to keep our patients well and out of hospital. In the past, it was often the case that people with long term conditions like diabetes or breathing problems would become ill and deteriorate at home and then be admitted as an emergency through A and E.

"As part of the "Better Services Better Value" review we are working towards keeping people well and at home, by treating people in the community and monitoring their conditions so we can stop them becoming sicker.

"This is not only better for patients but it is a better use of our NHS money.

"I hope Ms McDonagh can appreciate that GPs will always try and keep patients well enough to stop them being admitted to hospital.

"I hope your readers would agree that this is a good thing, and also acknowledge this is not the reason for St George's pulling out of the merger with St Helier.

"Both hospitals cite the big financial challenges they face and the fact that clinicians across south west London from hospitals as well as primary care, are leading the "Better Services, Better Value" review, which sets out a strong clinical case for changing services across SW London in the future.

"Local GPs will now be involved in talks with St Helier to agree a new way forward.

Yours faithfully,

Dr M Wake, Church Lane Practice;
Dr B Hudson, Grove Road Practice;
Dr C Elliot, Benhill & Belmont GP Centre;
Dr H Freeman, H Freeman & Partners;
Dr J Cockbain, Chesser Practice;
Dr G Hollier, Tamworth House Medical Centre;
Dr N Chana, Cricket Green Medical Practice;
Dr M Mahdevan , Alexandra Surgery;
Dr M Choudhry, Wandle Valley Health Centre;
Dr H Lings, Shotfield Medical Centre;
Dr T Hodgson, Wimbledon Village Surgery;
Dr S Arulrajah, Wandle Road Surgery;
Dr S Ganesaratnam, Wide Way Medical Centre;
Dr Z Abdullah, Figges March Surgery;
Dr R Lall, Graham Road Surgery;
Dr S Gibby, Grand Drive Surgery;
Dr K Broad;
Dr W Bulman and Dr D Balachandar, Francis Grove Surgery;
Dr C Chill, Pepys Road Surgery; Dr M Afzal, Dr K Worthington and Dr P Hughes, The Rowans;
Dr S Woropay and Dr M Jarzembowski, Cannon Hill Lane Practice;
Dr M Free, Dr K John and Dr V Gnanapragasam, Stonecot Surgery;
Dr L Crutchlow, Cheam Family Practice.

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