From Councillors Eber Kington (RA) and Steven McCormick (RA)
Dear Editor,
Your article of 26th March exposing the plans by Epsom and St Helier University Hospital Trust to merge with St George’s Hospital Trust is most welcome. However, the fact that the decision was taken behind closed doors three weeks ago, without public comment, with no reference on the ESHUHT website, and clearly no intention to engage with residents, is quite alarming.
The stated position, that the Trusts “have not agreed to merge” but will “submit a strategic case for merger to NHS England, asking them to approve developing a full business case” is hard to believe. Of course there is nothing fully worked up, but even a strategic case will have been developed by reviewing and testing options for cost savings such as merging services in single sites or in just two rather than three.
And the fact that patients and residents generally were the last to know of these plans, and only through the press, does not augur well if NHS England does agree that the Trusts can develop a full business case. But if that is what is to happen, the ESHUHT Board must be open from the start about what is within scope of any plan and what is not.
We also note that our own MP was aware of the developing proposal yet also decided not let residents know. She suggests that her priority is to ensure that residents in the Trust area “continue to receive the high-quality healthcare they deserve.” However, we believe that most residents in Epsom and Ewell will also want reassurance that those key services are not stripped out of Epsom Hospital and located at St Helier and far away St George’s Hospital.
Clearly, the state of the Hospitals’ finances is behind this decision, as Epsom, St Helier and St George’s Hospitals have all been set targets to clear debts, and Government support is due to be withdrawn over the next three years. However, the need to find ways to deliver current and new services in a more efficient way does not have to be done in secret. It can, and must, be an open process that encourages patients, members of staff, and residents to be part of the work that shapes their hospital services for years to come. And our residents need to know right now, that greater openness will be the case.
Yours
County Councillor Eber Kington and County Councillor Steven McCormick
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