Lib Dem MPs to abseil ‘crumbling’ St Helier Hospital to raise funds for local NHS charity

Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire and Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton & Wallington, Bobby Dean MP, will attempt the 125ft descent on 25 April, with the goal of raising £1000 each for the Epsom & St Helier Hospitals charity.

Helen Maguire MP will take the inaugural descent to kick off Abseil St Helier 2025, where members of the public are welcome to register and raise funds for key resources, such as equipment, hospital refurbishments, community services facilities and support for staff health and wellbeing.

The event comes after research by the House of Commons Library on major A&E department performance revealed that the Epsom and St Helier Trust is one of London’s worst NHS trusts for wait times, with over a third of patients waiting more than 12 hours to be admitted.

Helen Maguire and Bobby Dean have both long campaigned for a new specialist emergency care hospital and expressed their grave concerns over the Government’s decision to delay vital repairs until at least 2032, under the New Hospitals Programme, announced in January 2025.

The Lib Dem duo are eager to champion the tireless work being put in by healthcare staff at Epsom & St Helier NHS Hospitals Trust and hope their fundraising efforts can deliver a boost to St Helier Hospital and its staff during testing times.

Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire, said:

“What a great way to raise important funds for St Helier Hospital and their incredible staff, while the Government continues to dither and delay with the very future of Epsom & St Helier Hospitals.

“Our local hospital buildings need urgent repairs and additional funding now, and I hope the money we raise can deliver a boost to the wonderful NHS staff who are giving everything during such challenging times.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton & Wallington, Bobby Dean, said:

“Abseiling down a hospital is not exactly in the job description.

“But, if it helps raise money for the brilliant team who work at St Helier, I’m more than happy to be roped in.”