Sutton Council leader Ruth Dombey rallies the troops as St Helier Hospital faces 'biggest ever threat'

Leader Ruth Dombey made the comments at an emergency meeting, on Friday July 12, focused on the council’s plans to stop the closure of St Helier’s A&E and maternity departments as proposed under the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review.

St Helier Hospital in Carshalton 

Representatives from voluntary groups, local committees and MPs Paul Burstow and Tom Brake attended the meeting.

Coun Dombey said: “The future of healthcare in the borough is looking bleak if these ill thought-out plans are pushed through, so our campaign has never been more vital.

“We are - and always have been - opposed to these cuts and we need to rally the troops and show just why St Helier’s A&E and maternity departments are so vital to the borough.

“For anyone who has ever lived in Sutton it does seem that our local hospital has had one threat or another hanging over it for over twenty years.

“Together the community has fought off those persistent threats. Today our hospital faces probably its biggest ever threat, that is why we need the help of every local group in the borough to mobilise our community so we speak with one voice.”

The BSBV review is proposing the closure of A&E, maternity and children’s services at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

BSBV argue that “better out of hospital care” is at the heart of their vision and they are aiming to drive up the quality of care and health services in the region – as well as making sure the local NHS spends its money as effectively as possible.