NHS bosses have sought to allay concerns that journey times will be increased if a single emergency unit opens in Sutton while Epsom and St Helier Hospitals lose theirs.

In a public consultation into the future of St Helier and Epsom Hospitals the NHS has stated its preferred option is for a new dedicated emergency hospital in Sutton.

The other two options are to have the emergency unit at Epsom or St Helier hospitals.

Longer times for ambulance journeys is one of the key concerns people have with this option.

As all three options involve moving acute services from two sites to one, some patients are likely to face longer journeys.

As part of the consultation Improving Healthcare Together has published ‘baseline travel analysis’.

The consultation states: “If the specialist emergency care hospital is built at Sutton Hospital, this is likely to be the best option in terms of accessibility for the local community.

“In the more densely populated areas of Merton and Sutton, many people would be likely to be able to travel to Sutton Hospital or a hospital outside our combined area within 15 minutes.”

At a Merton Council meeting on Thursday (January 9) NHS bosses told Merton councillors that the majority of patients would travel to the new facility in an ambulance. This is excluding the maternity department.

Sutton is the preferred option as it is most central for the areas covered in this consultation and would therefore mean the smallest average increase of travel time.

According to Google Maps travel times on an average Friday afternoon at 2pm, this is how long a typical car journey would be to the proposed Sutton site (next to the Royal Marsden) from the centre of the areas, outlined by the NHS, in Surrey Downs, Merton and Sutton.

Of course, these times do not take into account the speed of a blue light ambulance.

Also, some people in Surrey are likely to be taken to East Surrey Hospital, while those in the North of Merton could be taken to St George’s Hospital.

Surrey Downs

  • Ockley: 34 mins to Royal Marsden, 28 mins to Epson General Hospital
  • Dorking: 28 mins to Royal Marsden, 20 mins to Epsom General
  • Leatherhead: 24 mins to Royal Marsden, 11 mins to Epsom General
  • Banstead: Six mins to Royal Marsden, 14 mins to Epsom General

Merton

  • Wimbledon: 29 mins to Royal Marsden, 17 mins to St Helier Hospital
  • Mitcham: 20 mins to Royal Marsden Hospital, 10 mins to St Helier Hospital
  • Morden: 16 mins to Royal Marsden Hospital, six mins to St Helier Hospital
  • Colliers Wood: 23 mins to Royal Marsden Hospital, 13 mins to St Helier Hospital

Sutton

  • Worcester Park: 17 mins to Royal Marsden Hospital, 19 mins to St Helier Hospital
  • Wallington: 10 mins to Royal Marsden, nine mins to St Helier Hospital
  • Sutton: Eight mins to Royal Marsden Hospital, 10 mins to St Helier Hospital
  • Cheam: Eight mins to Royal Marsden, nine mins to St Helier Hospital