Committee meets to discuss future of Epsom Hospital (From Surrey Comet)
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Committee meets to discuss future of Epsom Hospital
8:00am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Wandsworth By Lauren May
Epsom Hospital
A special committee met last week to discuss the future of Epsom and St Helier Hospitals following St George’s NHS Trust pulling out of a merger with St Helier.
Both hospitals were due to de-merge and re-merge with other hospitals in a bid to reach foundation status which they cannot do in their current financial form.
The transaction board, in charge of overseeing the process, met on Tuesday, February 7, to discuss the future of both hospitals.
At the meeting of the transaction board on February 7, it was agreed that plans for Epsom Hospital to de-merge from St Helier and re-merge with Ashford and St Peters would continue, subject to agreement with the local NHS.
Jon Sargeant, transaction director, said: "It is good news that the Epsom de-merger can continue, subject to final approval by the different parties involved.
"The Transaction Board carefully considered the position and concluded that whilst the future of St Helier is still to be confirmed, it was agreed that it remained in the best interests of patients, local people and staff to continue with the Epsom merger.
"In March, we should be in a position to announce whether Ashford and St Peter’s is the preferred partner and, as such, to work towards Epsom and St Helier de-merging in early 2013."
The board will now work toward securing an alternative future for St Helier however the hospitals’ Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins has confirmed their planned £219m refurbishment will go ahead.
He said: "The Government has been very clear that this money is set aside for us to spend and we have already spent more than £5 million on the project.
"Moreover, work will start shortly on the move of services and staff from the areas that are due to be demolished.
"This phase, and the eventual demolition, will cost over £12 million and are due to be approved by the Department of Health shortly."
