Another u-turn threatens St Helier's future - Burstow

3.43.34pm GMT Fri 1st Sep 2006

Paul Burstow MP for Sutton and Cheam

Sutton & Cheam MP Paul Burstow has expressed his dismay at news that Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has withdrawn her decision to recommend the building of a new hi-tech hospital at St Helier.

In a letter to David Nicholson, Chief Executive of NHS London, Ms Hewitt cites financial difficulties as a major factor in the withdrawal of her original decision.

The decision comes in response to a letter from Mr Nicholson to Ms Hewitt earlier in August, asking for the matter to be referred back to NHS London in the light of planning problems with the proposed St Helier site and the 'unexpected and significant deterioration' in the financial position of Kingston and Sutton & Merton PCTs.

The decision raises questions about the future of St Helier hospital and the wider issue of effective health care provision in the Sutton and Cheam area.

Commenting on the news, Paul Burstow MP said:

"This u-turn is indicative of the flip-flopping which has attended every stage of the debate about the location of the Critical Care Hospital."

"First the local health trust wanted St Helier, then it changed to Sutton, then the government recommended St Helier, now that decision is overturned and local people are left in limbo."

"The planning problems surrounding the St Helier site have always been an issue - they are now being used as a smokescreen to cover the real issue - a lack of funding to complete the project."

"Better Healthcare, Closer to Home has been revealed for what it truly is: a way to close down local health services and replace them with nothing but empty promises."