The new Sutton hospital, meant to replace outdated facilities, faces delays until 2033, frustrating local residents.
Sutton: The people in Surrey and south-west London feel let down again. The Labour Government announced delays for new hospitals in Epsom and Sutton. Local MPs say the current hospitals are crumbling and not suitable for modern healthcare.
On January 20, Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke in the House of Commons. He confirmed that construction for the new Sutton hospital won’t start until 2033 at the earliest. This puts it in the second wave of the New Hospital Programme.
Streeting blamed the previous Conservative government for the delays. He said they inherited an unfunded plan for new hospitals across the UK. The new government is trying to set a better timeline for these projects.
The St Helier’s Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton is a key project. In 2019, the Conservative government promised £500 million for it. Now, Labour estimates the cost is between £1.5 billion and £2 billion.
Dr. James Marsh, from St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, expressed concern. He said the people of south-west London have been let down again. They’ve already had to demolish one ward due to unsafe conditions.
He warned that more buildings might soon be unsafe for patients. He invited the Health Secretary to see the hospital’s state for himself. Most buildings at Epsom and St Helier are over a century old, older than the NHS.
Staff are working in areas with damp, mold, and leaks. After the announcement, Sutton & Cheam MP Luke Taylor said residents are understandably frustrated. He urged the government to speed up the process.
St Helier had to close one ward due to unsafe conditions. Staff are dealing with flooding and other issues. Rebecca Paul, MP for Reigate and Banstead, called the delay unacceptable. She said the case for the new hospital is clear.
She added that every year of delay wastes money on temporary fixes. Just this month, St Helier canceled blood tests due to flooding. She criticized the government for not prioritizing healthcare funding.
Councillor Barry Lewis mentioned that the blood department had to close recently. Many patients had their tests canceled last minute due to flooding.
In August 2024, Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell, described the buildings as crumbling and not fit for modern healthcare. Epsom General Hospital and St Helier Hospital serve over 490,000 people in the area.
These hospitals provide many services, including cancer care and surgery. They see nearly 900,000 visits each year and partner with St George’s Medical School for education and research.
