The NHS is facing a significant challenge over the coming years, and - both across the UK and locally - there is a need to become more efficient whilst further improving the care we give to our patients.
The hospitals in south west London have areas of excellence in the services they provide, and we know we can learn from and share these successes to improve the quality of care patients receive, as well as protect, enhance and develop services for the future.
Local doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals from across south west London, as well as patient representatives, are working together to review health services in the area. The review is called 'Better Services Better Value' and is being facilitated by NHS South West London, the organisation responsible for NHS services in the area.
There are six 'clinical working groups' which are looking at the following areas of care:
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planned care and end of life care;
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urgent, unscheduled and emergency care;
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maternity and newborn care;
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children's services;
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mental health, long term conditions and staying healthy;
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specialist services under London review (for example cancer, cardiac and paediatrics) (this group will convene as required).
Importantly, it was clinicians who decided they need to begin the review to make sure we protect and enhance services in south west London for patients in the long term.
'Scoring' panel outcome
On 9 May 2012, a 'scoring' panel of 60 people, made up of councillors, GPs, patient groups and NHS representatives from the five boroughs of south west London recommended that St Helier Hospital could - potentially - lose its A&E and maternity units (and, in turn, become a dedicated planned care centre for elective surgery).
More information
All the latest news from the review, including recent developments, is available on NHS South West London's website.
