Lib Dem MPs force vote in Parliament on St Helier delays

The Liberal Democrats used their Opposition Day in Parliament on Wednesday 23 April to force a vote on the government’s decision to delay vital works at hospitals in the New Hospitals Programme, including St Helier Hospital.

In a joint statement, five South London and Surrey MPs said this was a chance to “hold the government’s feet to the fire” and put pressure on ministers to speed up the fixing of crumbling hospitals.

The Labour government announced in January that plans to rebuild 40 new hospitals under the New Hospitals Programme have been delayed, with some projects delayed by over a decade.

Work on repairs and new facilities in Sutton borough are not scheduled to begin until 2033 at the earliest.

The Liberal Democrat motion called on the Government to reverse the delay to the New Hospitals Programme and create a crumbling hospitals taskforce to bring construction dates forward. It also criticised the previous Conservative government for failing to have a realistic plan to fund the new hospitals - however the Government voted the motion down.

In a joint statement, Liberal Democrat MPs Helen Maguire (Epsom and Ewell), Bobby Dean (Carshalton & Wallington), Luke Taylor (Sutton & Cheam), Paul Kohler (Wimbledon), & Chris Coghlan (Dorking & Horley), said:

“For years, patients in our area have had to put up with crumbling facilities and unacceptably long A&E waits at St Helier.

“It’s clear the Conservatives made promises they couldn’t keep over St Helier. Now the Labour government has failed to deliver the change they promised and kicked the can down the road on fixing our local health services.

“We are demanding urgent repairs to St Helier - so that local people can access the care they need, when they need it - and a new hospital building in Sutton Borough urgently.

“Every day we hear from countless patients and staff who are aghast at how long they have to wait for the repairs and facilities we so badly need. No one in hospital should have to worry about crumbling roofs or dilapidated buildings.

“The Liberal Democrats will hold the government's feet to the fire on this and put pressure on them to speed up these vital works. It is critical that we upgrade our health services so people can finally access the care they deserve.”