Most readers will almost certainly be aware of the government’s plans to build 40 new hospitals in England. Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of those 40, and has been pledged a new hospital in Sutton, south-west London, as part of this programme.
I can say with all sincerity that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will ultimately improve the quality of care we provide – and one that we must progress urgently.
I joined 25 years ago because I was attracted by the promise of a new hospital – and a quarter of a century on, we’re still waiting.
The reality is this: we, our patients and our staff cannot afford to wait any more. The longer these delays, the more money it costs us – and the more difficult it gets to keep our patients safe.
Our ageing estate looked awful even when I joined, and over the years it’s decayed further before my eyes. Meanwhile healthcare standards are getting higher while our hospitals are sliding into even more disrepair.
Some of our buildings predate the NHS itself. When our lifts break down we can’t even get the parts to repair them because they are no longer manufactured.
Only last week we had to close one of our wards because the lift wasn’t working.
Right now, we are delivering safe care – but it’s not easy in such a dilapidated and unpleasant environment, and I fear we won’t be able to provide the level of care we’d like to – or should be – for much longer.
Our patients and our staff deserve so much better than this current state – where wards are being shut down because the foundations are sinking, and floods and leaks are a certainty every winter. Every day we wait costs money, and each year we have to spend more and more on updating our old, rundown buildings, diverting scarce resources from the front line.
This month my tenure as chief medical officer at the trust comes to an end. But my unwavering commitment and passion for our new hospital does not.
And as far as I’m concerned, there’s no other option. We must progress our plans to build our new hospital and make improvements to our existing sites. Don’t let another 25 years go by – give us the go-ahead now.
Dr Ruth Charlton is the chief medical officer of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust