Delegation of MPs Lobbies Health Minister for the Future of St Helier Hospital

10.32.05pm GMT Sun 25th Nov 2007

In a top-level meeting at the Department for Health on Thursday, Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Paul Burstow MP for Sutton and Cheam and Siobhain McDonagh MP for Mitcham and Morden put the case for a re-built hospital, complete with an Accident and Emergency Unit, on the St Helier site to Ben Bradshaw MP, the Minister of State at the Department for Health.

Speaking after the meeting with the Minister and his officials, Tom Brake MP said, "With more than 5,000 people - including patients, local residents, staff and the Unions - backing the campaign to 'Save Our St Helier', we had to let the Minister know that any attempt to backtrack on the promise to provide a re-built hospital and A+E on the site will be met with fierce resistance. If we have to, we will fight on the wards, in the corridors and in the operating theatre to 'Save our St Helier'."

Paul Burstow MP, who secured a commitment from the Minister to meet again next Spring said, "This campaign is also about securing the future of health care on the Sutton Hospital site. The Minister has promised to look into these options and to write to provide us with an update on the plans that are being developed. The Sutton site has a proud history of providing health services. We must not lose that tradition, nor compromise the future provision of health services in the south of the borough."