St Helier’s New Emergency Care Hospital Delayed Until 2033

St Helier: So, the new emergency care hospital is now delayed until 2033. Can you believe it? Local MPs and councillors are really upset about this. They’re worried that the delay could put the future of Sutton Hospital at risk.

Back in 2019, the government promised a whopping £500 million for Sutton as part of a big hospital upgrade plan. But now, the costs have skyrocketed to between £1.5 billion and £2 billion. It’s a mess!

On January 20, Mr. Streeting said the original plan just wasn’t affordable right now. He mentioned that not a single new hospital was built in the last five years. And honestly, there’s no solid plan to build 40 hospitals in the next five years either.

While they still plan to upgrade hospitals, many projects are getting pushed back. The new Specialist Emergency Care Unit next to St Helier won’t even start until 2033. It’s in the second wave of the New Hospital Programme, while the first wave focuses on hospitals with crumbling infrastructure.

St Helier Hospital has been in the news a lot lately because of its poor condition. Just last week, they had to reschedule urgent blood tests due to flooding. It’s really concerning for everyone involved.

Local MP Bobby Dean is furious about the delay. He said it directly threatens the future of the hospital. He pointed out that St Helier has been neglected for too long, and it’s time for action.

Dean added that it’s crazy to keep delaying upgrades. Every year, they spend millions just patching things up, and the care quality keeps dropping. He’s determined to keep fighting for better conditions.

Another MP, Luke Taylor, also expressed his anger, calling the delay an outrage. He said the government promised change but has only delivered more delays while patients suffer.

Local council leaders are equally frustrated. Councillor Barry Lewis emphasized that there can’t be any more delays. He mentioned that the blood department had to close due to flooding, which is just unacceptable.

Lewis and other local leaders are meeting with NHS bosses to push for the funding needed to upgrade St Helier. They all agree that the hospital services need to be modernized.

In a statement, Lewis said that promises aren’t enough anymore. St Helier is falling apart, and improvements need to start happening right away.

Dr. James Marsh, Deputy Chief Executive of the local health group, said the delays are costing a fortune. Every year they wait adds £150 million to the cost of a new hospital. They’ve already had to demolish one ward, and it’s only a matter of time before more parts become unsafe.

He invited the Health Secretary to come see the state of the hospital for himself. St Helier is one of 18 hospitals facing funding delays, including others like Whipps Cross and Hammersmith.