Thirteen beds used to care for frail and elderly patients at St Helier Hospital in Sutton have been forced to close after significant cracks appeared in the building's walls. The closures are among a series of problems affecting the deteriorating 90-year-old hospital estate, which has also seen repeated lift failures disrupt children's services and essential repairs requiring contingency planning for maternity and neonatal services.
CQC flags estate as 'significant safety risk'
The problems have emerged after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised concerns about the condition of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust's buildings. Following an inspection in May, the watchdog said several buildings were ageing or in poor condition and described the estate as a “significant safety risk” which was negatively affecting patient care, particularly in the emergency department.
Hospital chief executive Mat Shaw is now preparing to raise urgent concerns about the condition of St Helier with representatives of the Government's New Hospital Programme on Thursday (November 5). The trust has spent £60 million in recent years maintaining its ageing buildings, but says significant challenges remain.
Chief executive calls for urgent investment
Mr Shaw said: “Our staff should be preparing to move into a modern new hospital. Instead, they are dealing with cracked walls, failing lifts and contingency plans to move mothers and babies so essential repairs can take place. They are doing an extraordinary job, but we cannot keep asking them to overcome the problems created by buildings that are reaching the end of their life. We will be making clear to the New Hospital Programme that we urgently need investment to address the risks we face now, alongside progress towards the new hospital our patients and communities need.”
The trust will seek clarity over the immediate capital support available to address its most serious estate risks, as well as the timetable for delivering the proposed new hospital in Sutton. Mr Shaw added: “We cannot keep spending millions on temporary repairs while the buildings around our patients and staff continue to deteriorate.”
Wider inspection findings
The CQC's concerns over the estate formed part of a wider inspection which saw the leadership of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust rated as requires improvement. Inspectors also found “limited evidence” that leaders had acted quickly enough to reduce the potential for avoidable harm despite previously identified issues in maternity, surgery and urgent and emergency care.
Further concerns were raised around bullying and harassment among staff and worsening workforce inequalities, while inspectors also highlighted improvements including complaints handling and partnership working. The trust accepted the CQC's findings and said it was taking action to strengthen how risks were identified and addressed. An update is expected following Thursday's meeting with the New Hospital Programme.
