It’s after an independent inspection found low, but “safe” levels of Legionella and Pseudomonas bacteria in the Women’s Health block.
No decisions have been made about where services will be located, but we’re told the aim is to maintain as many as possible at St Helier.
Advice has been taken from Infection Prevention and Control specialists as to the next steps.
Bosses at the 1930s built hospital say the building’s water is safe, with a range of measures, including the use of filters, in place and regular water testing taking place, which has confirmed that the current mitigations including water filters are effective.
However, they say significant work is needed to provide a sustainable and permanent solution, as the pre-war pipework will need to be replaced.
Mat Shaw, Group Chief Executive at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh), said: “This situation is immensely frustrating given the hard work that’s gone into improving our services, as recognised in our recent CQC report, and the national maternity experience survey, as well as feedback from the people we look after.
“It is clear to me, our staff who work in the building, and those who are cared for in it, that we have great women’s services at St Helier.
“Unfortunately, doing work in the building while services are running would place unacceptable risks to both patients and colleagues. No decisions have been made about where each service will be temporarily located – we are currently looking at where they can be housed at St Helier.”
If any of the services cannot be provided at St Helier and need to be moved to another location, the Hospital Trust says it will look at available support across the rest of the Trust, as well as work with its local partners and the South West London Integrated Care Board to find the best possible solution.
Women and their families should continue to access women’s health services at St Helier Hospital in the usual way, and once decisions have been made on where services will be temporarily relocated to in Spring next year, the hospital says it will communicate this with patients and communities “well in advance.”
Statement from Merton Council regarding the news;
“Merton Council has made clear its strong opposition to any reduction or relocation of Maternity Services from St Helier Hospital and has urged the NHS to confirm that they will not reduce, permanently close, or relocate Maternity Services from the hospital.
“St Helier Hospital is a vital and much-loved hospital used by thousands of Merton residents, particularly those who live in the Mitcham and Morden areas. However, the hospital has suffered significant underinvestment over many years and is reportedly now having to consider temporarily relocating Maternity Services to other nearby hospitals to deal with serious disrepair concerns.
“Councillor Peter McCabe, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, and Dame Siobhain McDonagh DBE MP, Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden, have written together to Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust seeing urgent clarity on the current position.
“This concerning news from St Helier comes just days after it was announced that the hospital would benefit from an injection of up to £57million to improve the Emergency Department through the governments NHS Estate Safety Fund. For many years, Merton Council, across successive administrations, has worked alongside local MPs to raise concerns with the Trust and advocate for continuous investment in St Helier, and so welcomes this much needed injection of funding. However, it also notes that this must not been seen as a substitute for a clear and funded plan to fix the disrepair and protect Maternity and all other existing services at the hospital.
Councillor Peter McCabe, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “St Helier Hospital is a vital service for Merton residents and it is essential that Maternity Services must be protected.
“We welcome the investment in St Helier, including the planned improvements to the Emergency Department, but we need urgent clarity from the Trust on what is being proposed for Maternity Services, what the estate risks are, and what investment is needed to keep services safe and accessible on the site.
“This is a very sensitive issue for local families and communities. Any proposed change must be fully transparent, properly evidenced and subject to meaningful engagement with the Council, residents, Healthwatch, MPs and local partners.”
“Merton Council is urging the Trust to confirm whether any formal proposal is being considered, whether any change would be temporary or permanent, what estate issues are driving the current position, and what the impact would be on Merton residents.
“The Council will also raise the condition of the St Helier estate at it’s meeting of Healthier Communities and Older People Scrutiny later in June. The Council remains committed to protecting vital NHS services and advocating for the investment needed to secure the future of all existing services at St Helier Hospital.”
