Surbiton Hospital

Surbiton Hospital has served our community fabulously for years. I believe it should continue to do so, preferably with major investment to upgrade its facilities and expand the health services available there.

Under a new feasibility study resulting from a meeting I initiated last month, there is now a chance we might get that investment in the next few years.

Three years ago, any future for Surbiton Hospital was in doubt, when the NHS consulted on a closure option. We won that battle and stopped them closing Surbiton Hospital, but not without cost: whilst out-patient services like physiotherapy remained on site, in-patient beds moved to Tolworth Hospital.

There was also a promise of a plan for the future, but then Kingston’s PCT hit the financial buffers. The then Board was unwilling to deliver that promise, opting to place Surbiton Hospital on the backburner, where it has remained during the budget crisis.

However, a few months ago, evidence mounted that Kingston’s PCT was emerging from the worst of its financial problems. It’s early days and there’s been pain on the way but the PCT’s Chief Executive and Board should be congratulated for managing this without the level of cuts many feared.

With the better finances, I decided to re-kindle debate over Surbiton Hospital.

After consulting some local doctors, I called a “brainstorming” meeting of Surbiton GPs and other interested parties, and I’m delighted so many were positive, as their support will be crucial to any plan. Now we must hope that the new study will present our community with some exciting ideas for Surbiton’s future early next year.