The leader of Sutton Council has renewed her call to abandon proposals to shut St Helier’s A&E, after NHS leaders warn A&E units are on a cliff edge.

It comes after NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar warned A&E pressures are growing and if it continues to do so the workload will become impossible to deal with.

Councillor Ruth Dombey said: “It is absolutely clear that A&Es across the country cannot cope with demand as it is.

"Yet BSBV is suggesting closing two A&Es, including one at St Helier Hospital, without anything to replace them and no funding for better out of hours services.

“It is a flawed and dangerous suggestion that could end up costing lives.”

The Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review is proposing to shut St Helier and Epsom’s A&E departments – leaving A&E departments at just Croydon, Kingston and St George’s to cover the whole region.

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NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar

The Care Quality Commission has said the rise in demand for A&E is unsustainable.

Attendances have risen by 50 per cent over the past 10 years and last winter large parts of the service missed the four-hour waiting targets.

 

The BSBV proposals will go out to consultation in June.

Coun Dombey added: “I encourage everyone to make their voices heard in this consultation.

“Write to your local GPs and tell them that the people of Sutton need St Helier Hospital to continue providing excellent healthcare for generations to come.”