Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, John Davey, Trust Chair, Samantha Jones, Chief Executive and Mike O'Brien, Minister of State for Health Services (from left)
22 March 2010
A landmark scheme to spend £219 million redeveloping St Helier Hospital in London has been given the go ahead by the government.
As a result, almost of third of the current site will be demolished and replaced with a brand new building, which will house the majority of the hospital's wards and clinics. To help improve the privacy of patients and reduce the spread of infections, more than 50 per cent of the 346 beds in the new building will be in single rooms.
The building, which will be built to the newest hospital design standards and incorporating the latest technology, will also include a local care centre costing £17 million, purpose-built outpatient facilities and a new pharmacy.
In addition, nearly £40 million will be spent upgrading the remainder of the 70 year old site, including opening a centralised eye clinic and refurbishing wards which will not be moving into the new building. A new-decked car park is also included, making it easier for patients, visitors and staff to park.
Staff, volunteers and patients celebrate the announcement
The announcement was made during a visit by the Minister of State for Health Services, Mike O'Brien, to the hospital today (22 March). During the visit, Mr O'Brien, visited a number of clinical areas and met with patients, visitors, staff, local residents and volunteers. The areas toured included the clinical assessment unit, ward B5, the new birth centre and the recently refurbished neonatal unit.
Mike O'Brien, Minister of State for Health Services said: "The St Helier Hospital site is more than 70 years old and was built at a time when healthcare was delivered differently. New ways of working, combined with improvements in technology and medication, require a more modern setting for today's healthcare and, as such, we are delighted to approve the Trust's plans.
"As part of the Government's hospital improvement programme, this investment will allow the staff of St Helier Hospital to deliver healthcare in a bright, welcoming environment, built to the latest standards and with the most up-to-date technology and equipment.
Samantha Jones, John Davey, Siobhan McDonagh, Mike O'Brien, Paul Burstow and Tom Brake (from left)
"I am particularly grateful to Siobhan McDonagh, Paul Burstow and Tom Brake, the local MPs, who have worked closely with me in securing this funding."
Samantha Jones, Chief Executive said: "We are absolutely delighted with this news. Getting the go ahead from the Department of Health and HM Treasury paves the way for the single biggest investment in healthcare in Sutton and Merton for a generation.
"Our doctors, nurses and other staff work tirelessly to provide the best possible, safe healthcare to our local residents. However, the St Helier Hospital site is tired and outdated and is no longer suitable as a place to deliver 21st Century healthcare.
"These plans will radically transform the St Helier Hospital site, allowing us to offer our patients first class care in a first class environment."
Pippa Hart is the Trust's Director of Nursing said: "I have been a nurse at St Helier Hospital since 1988 and this is the best piece of news we have ever had.
"Along with a range of doctors, nurses and other staff, I have been involved in shaping the designs for the new St Helier Hospital site and the benefits they offer to patients are immense. I am confident that they will allow us to drastically improve the experience patients have in the hospital, in particular the levels of privacy we can offer them. It will also do wonders for staff morale.
Mike O'Brien with patient Yaseerah Goolamkossen
"Being built to the latest standards also means that the hospital will be a lot more efficient, for instance cutting the distance nurses and doctors have to walk between wards and clinics. The £219 million investment will also allow us to make the hospital much more environmentally friendly, reducing our carbon footprint and saving money on energy."
The redevelopment of St Helier Hospital forms part of an innovative initiative aimed at improving the way in which the people of Sutton and Merton receive healthcare from their local NHS. Led by NHS Sutton and Merton in partnership with the Trust, Better Healthcare Closer to Home is modernising the care offered to local people, with more care being delivered closer to people's homes.
As part of Better Healthcare Closer to Home, NHS Sutton and Merton will be building four local care centres, which will provide a range of services, including diagnostic tests, e.g. blood testing and x-rays, and outpatient services.
The centres, which will be managed by NHS Sutton and Merton, will be spread across Sutton and Merton, including one which will be incorporated in the new building on the St Helier Hospital site.
Mike O'Brien and Samantha Jones
Bill Gillespie, Chief Executive of NHS Sutton and Merton said: "Approval of the outline business case is great news, taking us one step closer to making Better Healthcare Closer to Home a reality for local people in Sutton and Merton. We are delighted to be working in partnership with St Helier Hospital in helping to deliver this landmark healthcare development for our patients."
The Department of Health has approved the outline business case for the redevelopment of the hospital. Over the coming months, the Trust will develop the full business case, which, once agreed, means building will start on site in 2012 with completion due in 2016. Sutton Council granted outline planning permission for the redevelopment on 10 March 2010.
Key facts about the redevelopment of St Helier Hospital:
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£127 million to be spent on new hospital building;
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£40 million spent on upgrading remainder of the site;
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£17 million local care centre;
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346 beds, including 50 per cent in single rooms;
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Purpose-built outpatients department;
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New pharmacy department;
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Centralised eye clinic;
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Multi-decked car park and improvements to hospital entrances/exits.
