Statements of people giving their reaction to the news that the £219 million St Helier Hospital redevelopment has been given the go-ahead by the government.
"This is the best local news we have had for decades. This investment will secure the future of St Helier Hospital and health services in the borough for years to come. It is great news for patients, staff and local businesses. I congratulate everyone involved in making this project happen.
"The campaign to secure the necessary investment has been long drawn out and the uncertainty over whether the campaign was going to be successful must have been unsettling and at times demoralising. Yet the Trust's staff have remained focussed on delivering outstanding healthcare at the same time as they were preparing the ground for the Better Healthcare Closer to Home project.
"They should be proud of the central role they have played in securing the £219 million for 'Better Healthcare Closer to Home' (BHCH) and the huge boost this will provide to healthcare facilities in the area. Patients will benefit for decades to come."
Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington
"Having lived locally in the area for all of my life, including working as a doctor on the wards at St Helier, I've always been passionate about supporting St Helier. It is satisfying to finally see the start of a brand new, state-of-the-art building which will finally match the kind-hearted character of the staff working in St Helier. This is great news for everybody, from doctors to patients alike".
Dr Toosy - local GP
"This is great news for local people, as we know there is considerable support for the Better Healthcare Closer to Home programme. By providing more care closer to home and re-developing St Helier Hospital we can make a huge difference to how healthcare is delivered in Sutton and Merton."
Bill Gillespie, Chief Executive, NHS Sutton and Merton
"The transformation of St Helier Hospital is long over-due. Receiving government approval for our redevelopment plans is fantastic news for all our patients, visitors and staff. Our aim to provide 21st century care in a 21st century setting is a huge step closer and we now intend to rapidly progress the scheme."
Tim Wilkins, Project Director - St Helier Hospital redevelopment, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"This is a very exciting time for everyone working at the Trust and for our patients. We're looking forward to caring for patients in a health care setting that is fit for the next generation of health care users. And, with improved facilities, we'll be even better equipped to meet the needs of out patients and their loved ones."
Tracy Smith, Head of Nursing - general and emergency medicine, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"The St Helier Hospital redevelopment will mean that our outpatient services will be housed in a bright, state-of-the-art facility that truly reflects the level of care we give to patients. We are sure that the redevelopment will really help to boost the experience patients have at our hospital, and as such, patients, visitors and staff all stand to benefit from it."
Clare Gately, lead nurse for outpatient services, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"The news that investment in St Helier Hospital has finally been agreed is long awaited and to be warmly welcomed. The rebuilding and upgrading of the hospital is something I have been happy to campaign for over the years.
"The announced go ahead is a great boost for all local people who pressed for these vital improvements and a just reward for all those in the local NHS who put so much into making this happen. To all of these people I say thank you and well done.
"I will of course continue to play my part in offering any support that may be needed in the future. Our NHS is a great national asset and one that deserves to be championed by any of us that can make a difference".
Dr Ken Andrew, Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Carshalton and Wallington
"St Helier Hospital provides essential local services to my constituents in Wimbledon. It is vital this investment programme goes ahead and I look forward to working with the Trust to ensure it fulfils its potential."
Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon
"This is great news for our area. It will be a real boost for the local economy.
"St Helier hospital is in desperate need of investment. The news that we have secured the Treasury's green light for a new patient wing is great news."
Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam
"This news takes us one step closer to making Better Healthcare Closer to Home a reality for local people in Sutton and Merton. The programme is about giving people the best care in the safest and most convenient environment. As well as investing in hospital services, we are helping more people to get their healthcare locally by developing four local care centres, which will provide outpatient appointments and diagnostic tests (e.g. x-rays).
"With local care centres on track to open in Wallington in 2011, at the Wilson Hospital and Nelson Hospital in 2013 and at St Helier Hospital in 2017, this is real progress in improving local health care."
Dr Martyn Wake, Joint Medical Director, NHS Sutton and Merton
"As I was born in St Helier Hospital it has special significance for me, so I am pleased that the much needed investment to rebuild and upgrade this facility is to go ahead. I hope that this redevelopment will mark the start of a new phase in healthcare provision in this area, and that we will see the harnessing of new diagnostic and treatment regimes that will truly bring better healthcare closer to home."
Diana Coman, Liberal Democrat Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Mitcham & Morden
"Staff at the Trust have waited a very long time for this redevelopment to actually happen. Now it looks like it will become a reality and that has got to be good news for our patients, the community and our staff"
Mike Smith, A&E nurse and Chair of Partnership Forum, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"The plans and investment to redevelop St Helier Hospital are the best opportunity we have had for years to give our patients the high quality services they deserve in a modern state-of-the art building. Much good work already goes on at the hospital but the building is long overdue for development."
Dr Steve Hyer, clinical director - specialty medicine, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"The announcement that £219 million is going to be invested in St Helier Hospital represents years of hard work by the staff of St Helier and politicians of all parties. It is an enormous breakthrough and secures the long term future of St Helier and will bring the hospital up to a world class standard providing the care and facilities that both staff and patients require. It is really important that we harness this momentum and ensure that investment promises are translated into actual building projects. Congratulations to all!"
Philippa Stroud, Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Sutton and Cheam
"I have been closely involved with the major NHS project of provision of services to local residents under Better Healthcare Closer to Home for the last six years. The Overview and Scrutiny panels have, and will remain, challenging in order that we meet our objectives. I welcome this much awaited news that, at last, we are in a position that our aspirations for the residents of Merton will become reality in the not-too-distant future."
Cllr Gilli Lewis Lavender, Merton Council
"This long-awaited announcement will finally give Sutton residents the modern, high standard health facilities they need.
"We are absolutely delighted that the Government has agreed the funding and we will be pressing our partners in the health service to start construction as quickly as possible.
"Council planning officers worked flat out in partnership with Trust staff to get the scheme approved and make this announcement possible.
"We are confident that it will deliver better healthcare services for people in Sutton and is sympathetic to nearby residents."
Cllr Sean Brennan, Leader of Sutton Council
"This is excellent news for the Trust, but, more importantly, for the residents of Sutton, Merton and beyond. It will also have a big impact on the morale of our staff and volunteers.
"Anyone who has visited the St Helier Hospital site will know that the redevelopment is long overdue. By working with the local community, politicians, staff, NHS partners and others, we have secured the government's commitment to this scheme. The JCBs won't be on site for a little while yet, but that's no reason why we shouldn't be celebrating this momentous announcement."
Antony Tiernan, Director of Communications, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"The redevelopment at St Helier Hospital is very exciting news for all patients with cancer undergoing treatment within the Trust. The enhanced quality of the environment will have a beneficial influence on all aspects of patient care. We very much look forward to moving into purpose-designed accommodation for delivering chemotherapy and supportive care to both day cases and in-patients."
Dr Lydia Jones, clinical director - cancer services, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
"Fabulous news! It's the news that Sutton and Cheam residents have been waiting to hear, Great news for them, the staff but most of all, future patients of St Helier."
Val Brundle, Chair, St Helier and Sutton hospitals League of Friends
"As a local GP I am delighted that the St Helier re-development has been given the go-ahead, as I know how important it is for my patients to be treated in single rooms or single sex wards when they go to hospital. The re-development of St Helier will enable local people to get high quality care in a modern and clean environment."
Dr Jonathan Cockbain, a local GP
