Fears maternity unit may not return after repairs

Maternity services are being relocated from a south London hospital due to urgent work to replace its pre-war pipes amid concerns the unit may not return.

St Helier Hospital in Sutton, which has just been awarded £57m to improve its emergency ward, will relocate some services next spring "to provide a sustainable and permanent solution".

Merton Council expressed "strong opposition", urging the NHS "to confirm that they will not reduce, permanently close, or relocate maternity services".

Mat Shaw, chief executive at St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: "This situation is immensely frustrating given the hard work that's gone into improving our services."

In a statement, the hospital said that "for the safety of our patients and people we need to act... to temporarily relocate the women's health block at St Helier Hospital, while keeping as many services on the site as possible".

It added that the "significant work" is "not possible to do while maintaining a good birth, gynaecology and fertility experience and safe environment for babies and families in the building".

Merton councillor Peter McCabe, cabinet member for health and social care, called this "a very sensitive issue for local families and communities".

He said: "St Helier Hospital is a vital service for Merton residents and it is essential that maternity services must be protected.

"We welcome the investment in St Helier, including the planned improvements to the emergency department but we need urgent clarity from the trust on what is being proposed for maternity services, what the estate risks are, and what investment is needed to keep services safe and accessible on the site."

Shaw added: "It is clear to me, our staff who work in the building, and those who are cared for in it, that we have great women's services at St Helier.

"Unfortunately, doing work in the building while services are running would place unacceptable risks to both patients and colleagues.

"No decisions have been made about where each service will be temporarily located – we are currently looking at where they can be housed at St Helier."

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