News and press releases

With four hospitals, 700,000 patients and thousands of staff and volunteers, there's always something new happening at the Trust.

Read all the news from the Trust in the past 30 days by clicking on the links below. Please contact the communications team if you would like to know more about any of these news items.

If you would like to read older stories, please look in our news archive. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to receive a message when we add a news story.

The future of St Helier Hospital: Setting the record straight Over the last week, you may have read articles in the local and regional press about how the south west London 'Better Services Better Value' review may affect the future of our hospitals, in particular St Helier.
Epsom experts invent new equipment to mend broken bones A senior orthopaedic technician (who helps to set and plaster broken bones) at Epsom Hospital has developed a new piece of equipment that helps to treat patients with fractured wrists.
As snow thaws, Trust says it's 'business as usual' It's business as usual across Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals despite the snow that fell over the weekend. Patients are advised that there are no cancellations - all wards, clinics, outpatient departments and scheduled operations are taking place as normal.
Trust signs up to Patients Association's CARE campaign This morning (3 February 2012), the Board of Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals formally gave their backing to a national campaign which champions the rights of NHS patients up and down the country.
Everybody needs good neighbours … especially when it's cold One of the most senior doctors at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals is calling on local people to think of their neighbours during the current cold weather.
Norovirus (diarrhoea and vomiting) at Epsom Hospital - update Last week (23 January 2012), we announced that Epsom Hospital was dealing with a number of cases of the 'winter vomiting bug', Norovirus, which puts a significant pressure on beds at the hospital. Following a recent update (25 January 2012) we are pleased to announce that the situation continues to improve.
Landmark £219 million redevelopment of St Helier Hospital The recent announcement by St George's Healthcare NHS Trust that they have withdrawn their bid to merge with St Helier Hospital has led to speculation about our plans to spend millions of pounds redeveloping the hospital.
'Keep warm, keep well' during the cold weather The Met Office has confirmed that all regions of England are now experiencing severe cold weather. Because low temperatures can be dangerous, especially for the very young or very old or those with chronic disease, the most senior nurse at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals is calling on local people to protect themselves against the dangers of winter.
St George's decide not to proceed with merger process St George's Healthcare NHS Trust have informed us and our strategic authority, NHS London, that they cannot proceed with their bid to merge with St Helier and Sutton hospitals. Throughout the process St George's have been very positive about the strategic opportunity to merge and the benefits this could bring to patients.
Marathon challenge is no cakewalk for Trust IT worker Andy The opening sentence of his first blog entry reads: 'My name is Andy. I like cakes, and sweets, and pies and buns, and just about everything that is bad for you.'
£2.5 million transformation complete at Epsom's day surgery unit The multi-million pound overhaul of the day surgery and endoscopy unit (where patients' digestive and respiratory systems are examined using miniscule cameras) at Epsom Hospital is now complete, with the first patients already coming through the doors to the brand new department.
Norovirus (diarrhoea and vomiting) at Epsom Hospital - update On Monday, we announced that Epsom Hospital was dealing with a number of cases of the 'winter vomiting bug', Norovirus, which puts a significant pressure on beds at the hospital. We are pleased to be able to state that the situation is now improving.
Top nurse at Epsom Hospital asks for help to stop spread of Norovirus The top nurse at Epsom Hospital is today (23 January 2012) asking local people for their help to combat the spread of an infectious stomach illness that can lead to diarrhoea and vomiting. The hospital is facing significant pressure as a result of Norovirus.
De-merger update - assessment of bids Local people and our patients will be aware that our Trust is unable to achieve foundation trust status in its current form. As such, a special committee (known as a Transaction Board) was set up to explore and, once approved, implement alternative options. This is likely to see Epsom and St Helier (including Sutton) hospitals de-merge and merge with other hospitals.
Missed appointments cost local hospitals £5.6 million New figures show that in the last year alone, people missing appointments at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals cost the Trust (and, in turn, taxpayers) more than £5 million.
Keep a lid on it - top nurse gives bathroom tip The most senior nurse at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals is advising local people to put the lid down when flushing the toilet to avoid the spread of disease.
We're on the move! New £53,000 mobile x-ray unit at Epsom Hospital It's taken a 72-mile sponsored walk and weeks of fundraising, but thanks to the hard work of Epsom Medical Equipment Fund and 17 members of staff from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb), a new mobile x-ray unit has arrived at Epsom Hospital.
Easy to swallow - new cameras arrive at Epsom Hospital Doctors at Epsom Hospital are using a brand new technique to work out what's wrong with patients who have problems with their digestive system: they get them to swallow a video camera!
Fed up with winter colds and bugs? Catch it, bin it, kill it, says senior nurse It's natural to feel a bit down in January: the party season is over, the days are short and the weather isn't great. Added to that, a number of winter germs are doing the rounds, from common coughs and colds to stomach bugs and flu.
New £134,000 life-saving cancer service launched Cancer patients who need emergency treatment at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are set to benefit from a brand new life-saving service, which includes the appointment of two additional oncology (cancer) consultants and two new cancer nurse specialists.