Epsom Hospital Update
MEDIA RELEASE
25 September 2008
Surrey confirms intentions for the future of maternity services at Epsom
Surrey Primary Care Trust Board yesterday confirmed its desire to commission maternity services at Epsom General Hospital.
The board made its decision after taking into account all the latest evidence and best practice, including the recommendations made by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel on the proposals for maternity services at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust and the most recent guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the future of small maternity units.
The decision to issue this early indication to commission maternity services at Epsom comes after extensive public debate held by the PCT together with Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust so that local families can be reassured of continued access to this vital service.
Surrey PCT Chief Executive, Chris Butler said of the board’s decision: “This is the right decision for Surrey’s residents. The fine detail of our commissioning plans needs to be worked through but all the evidence, including the views from the community, says this has to be the right way forward.”
Samantha Jones, Chief Executive of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are really pleased that the board of Surrey Primary Care Trust has declared its desire to commission maternity services from Epsom Hospital for the people of Epsom and beyond. We look forward to receiving the finer detail of their commissioning intentions, including the standards they expect us to meet, so that we can give them detailed service plans which are viable both clinically and financially."
The further work on the full commissioning intentions for the Epsom area is part of the PCT’s Assuring Access Programme and the Women’s and Children’s Services Review which is being undertaken in partnership with Sutton and Merton PCT and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. After commissioning intentions are issued, PCTs invite providers to respond with their detailed service plans.
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