16 January 2009
A major conference attended by over 60 clinical staff at St Helier and St George's Hospitals as well as local GPs and members of the public this week has reviewed plans for a partnership arrangement between the two trusts to deliver better services for women and children.
Jointly hosted by Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, the conference covered a wide variety of topics, including developing clinical networks for children and the future of maternity services. They also looked at the future of gynaecology, neonatal care and paediatric care services in hospital and the community, as well as A&E services for children.
Dr Martyn Wake, Joint Medical Director at Sutton and Merton PCT, said: "After many months of discussion about various options for the future, one clear way forward is beginning to emerge, which would see St Helier remaining a major hospital for childbirth, with partnership working in paediatric services, obstetrics and gynaecology between the clinical teams there and those at St George's. The spirit of partnership working came through very strongly during the day and we are well on the way to putting together detailed plans for the future, which we will be discussing with stakeholders over the coming months."
Dr Rim El-Rifai, Clinical Director at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Frontline clinical staff from both St Helier and St George's have been discussing options for the future over recent weeks and this conference was a milestone in the process. Our women's and children's services have been subject to a lengthy period of engagement with local groups and the public, and I feel we have now moved forward and can see a future that will preserve the best services at St Helier, benefiting from specialist expertise from St George's, for example when patients require complex care."
Mike Sharland, Consultant Paediatrician at St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "I am pleased to be involved in working towards meaningful partnership solutions, which are receiving wide support. Exploring reconfiguration of these services is essential in finding a long term solution to the issues faced in the provision of women's and children's services across south west London."
Samantha Jones, Chief Executive of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We did not discuss services at Epsom Hospital at this meeting, but Surrey Primary Care Trust has already announced its desire to retain services there and we will be looking at the best partnership options for Epsom in the next part of the process.
"In the meantime both Epsom and St Helier will continue to provide excellent care for local people. When we have a clearer idea of how the partnership proposals will work in detail we will make a further public announcement."
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, St George's Healthcare Trust and the Sutton and Merton PCT hope to consider detailed plans for the future of these services at their Board meetings in March and April.
