24 October 2011
Two further meetings have been arranged so that members of the public can learn more about how Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals intend to achieve foundation trust status. This will see the hospitals de-merge and merge with others.
The meetings, which take place next month at St Helier and Epsom hospitals, will also give local people the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the process.
The meetings will take place on:
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Wednesday 2 November, 6.30pm - 7.30pm, Lecture Theatre, Postgraduate Medical Centre, Epsom Hospital;
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Wednesday 9 November, 6.30pm - 7.30pm, Whitehall Lecture Theatre, Postgraduate Medical Centre, St Helier Hospital.
The project has now reached the stage at which potential partners are finalising their tenders, to be submitted on 11 November. Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has expressed an interest in merging with Epsom Hospital, whilst St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has expressed an interest in St Helier.
Jan Sawkins is the independent chair of the special board (known as the Transaction Board) set up to lead the process. She said: "We're fast approaching the deadline for potential partners to submit their tenders, so soon we will know exactly what their proposals look like for our hospitals' futures.
"It's then the role of the Transaction Board, with support from a wide range of different people and organisations, to scrutinise the proposals, which will take some time. Back in August we worked with dozens of patient and public representatives, as well as staff from the Trust, to prioritise the criteria which will be used to measure the final bids. For any bid to be successful, they will first have to meet these criteria.
"We held public meetings at the beginning of the tender stage, after the potential partners were announced, and we have continuously engaged with local people, patients, GPs, hospital staff and others throughout the process.
"Now that the organisations are preparing to submit their bids on 11 November, we feel it's a good time for local people to come together again to discuss the future of their hospitals, to ask questions, and to raise any concerns they may have."
The Transaction Board is expected to make its final recommendation/s in January / February 2012, prior to them going to the Trust Board, NHS London (the Trust's strategic health authority) and the Department of Health. The de-merger and establishment of the new organisations are expected to take place on January 2013.
Jan added: "There is still some way to go, but we are at a vitally important time in the process and I'd encourage patients, visitors and local people to come to the events, find out more, and get their questions answered."
