Epsom Lib Dem MP calls for more funding to tackle local NHS backlog at Epsom and St Helier

Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire, this week urged the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to “see first hand the scale of the challenge” at Epsom & St Helier Hospitals.

Helen Maguire MP told the House of Commons she was grateful for £12m of extra funding given to Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust.

However, she added: “This is quite frankly a drop in the ocean in comparison to the scale of need”.

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group (gesh) say: “Our current maintenance backlog alone amounts to £150m, and we estimate our backlog maintenance will rise by £180m over five years - or £36m per year.”

In Health and Social Care questions, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire, asked the Health Secretary:

“While I welcome the recent announcement of £12 million in funding for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, this is, frankly, a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of need. 

“The current repairs backlog at Epsom and St Helier alone stands at £150 million. Patients and staff deserve safe, modern facilities - not just patchwork repairs. 

“We urgently need both full repairs at the existing hospitals and the rapid delivery of the new specialist care hospital, not in 10 years time but now. 

“Can I therefore ask my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State to meet with me and visit Epsom and St Helier Hospitals to see firsthand the scale of the challenge and discuss how we can accelerate progress?”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, issued the following reply:

“I absolutely appreciate the challenges that the Honourable Member describes, having met with the trust myself. The Minister for Secondary Care, my Honourable friend the Member for Bristol South (Karin Smyth) and I have both met with local MPs about the challenges facing Epsom and St Helier.”

“Lord Darzi’s investigation found that the Conservatives left a £37 billion black hole in NHS capital. We are reversing that trend, with the largest-ever capital budget for health. 

“The £12.1 million for Epsom and St Helier trust for estate safety is in addition to the £207 million of capital that the NHS South West London integrated care board is receiving, including for maintenance backlogs.”

In response to the Health Secretary’s answer in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire, said:

“It is disappointing that the Health Secretary ignored my invitation to come down and see first hand the scale of the challenge at Epsom & St Helier. 

“If he spent a day in the shoes of one of our exceptional doctors or nurses, caring for patients amidst crumbling walls and leaking ceilings, I’m sure he too would share the grave concerns that I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues Bobby Dean MP and Luke Taylor MP have for our local hospitals.

“Without adequate funding, and fast, the very future of our hospitals could be at risk. £12.1 million does not even begin to touch the sides compared with what our hospitals need right now.

“Alongside the new hospital building in Sutton to ease the pressure on Epsom & St Helier, patients and staff deserve safe and modern facilities wherever they go, not just patchwork repairs and more uncertainty from this Government”.