Agenda item

The report considers a Positioning Statement for issues relating to the future provision of acute services within Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESHUHT) area and the proposed sale of land and buildings, as well as the future of West Park Hospital site and the provision of other NHS services.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to amend paragraph IV of the Positioning Statement attached as Annex 1 to the report, to read as follows:

IV.       That the current and planned disposal of land and estate buildings, even to fund improvements be halted, in order to accommodate additional health and related services for the residents of Epsom and Ewell and East Surrey. The sale of any such fixed assets of the Estate is not sustainable and will serve to limit the services and options for the future.

(2)          Agreed to amend paragraph V of the Positioning Statement attached as Annex 1 to the report, to read as follows:

V.        Support and make representations to Surrey and Borders Partnership to open a unit for people presenting in crisis with acute mental health needs within the Borough and East Surrey.  The current concentration of mental health facilities at St Peter’s Hospital and (part of) West Park does not provide an easily accessible NHS service for our residents.

(3)          Agreed to adopt the Positioning Statement relating to the future location of acute services within the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESHUHT) area and other matters as set out in Annex 1, subject to the amendments agreed in (1) and (2) above.

The Committee received a report presenting a Positioning Statement for issues relating to the future provision of acute services within Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESHUHT) area and the proposed sale of land and buildings, as well as the future of West Park Hospital site and the provision of other NHS services.

The Committee was verbally informed of the following amendments to the report:

·                     Correction to paragraph 2.4. The Head of Housing and Community informed the Committee that the remaining sites within West Park were not owned by the ESHUHT, but by NHS property Services and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

·                     Expansion on paragraph 3.9. The Head of Housing and Community informed the Committee that any funds received from the sale of land would both reduce the Trust’s deficit and generate pound for pound funding for reinvestment into critical infrastructure at the Epsom General Hospital site.

The Chairman of the Council’s Health Liaison Panel, Councillor Richard Baker, was in attendance for the item and provided the meeting with a verbal summary of the issues addressed by the Positioning Statement.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Proposed sale of land and estate buildings at Epsom General Hospital site. The Committee expressed significant concern at the proposed sale of land and estate buildings at the Epsom General Hospital site by the ESHUHT to reduce its budget deficit, which would not provide a sustainable solution to the Trust’s budgetary deficit, but would limit its services and options for the future. 

b)            Amendment to paragraph IV of Positioning Statement. An amendment to the wording of paragraph IV of the Positioning Statement  was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Councillor Chris Frost. This amendment was carried by the Committee and is detailed in the Committee’s decision below.

c)            Amendment to paragraph V of Positioning Statement. An amendment to the wording of paragraph V of the Positioning Statement  was proposed by Councillor Kate Chinn and seconded by Councillor Lucie Dallen. This amendment was carried by the Committee and is detailed in the Committee’s decision below.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to amend paragraph IV of the Positioning Statement attached as Annex 1 to the report, to read as follows:

IV.       That the current and planned disposal of land and estate buildings, even to fund improvements be halted, in order to accommodate additional health and related services for the residents of Epsom and Ewell and East Surrey. The sale of any such fixed assets of the Estate is not sustainable and will serve to limit the services and options for the future.

(2)          Agreed to amend paragraph V of the Positioning Statement attached as Annex 1 to the report, to read as follows:

V.        Support and make representations to Surrey and Borders Partnership to open a unit for people presenting in crisis with acute mental health needs within the Borough and East Surrey.  The current concentration of mental health facilities at St Peter’s Hospital and (part of) West Park does not provide an easily accessible NHS service for our residents.

(3)          Agreed to adopt the Positioning Statement relating to the future location of acute services within the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESHUHT) area and other matters as set out in Annex 1 to the report, subject to the amendments agreed in (1) and (2) above.