Two London hospitals are set to receive a £12 million of government investment to upgrade infrastructure and improve patient comfort, following years of lobbying from local leaders and healthcare staff.
The funding for Epsom and St Helier hospitals will support a broad package of essential works and is part of the Government's Estates Safety Fund for 2025-2026.
These include upgrades to internal and external building fabric, energy and ventilation systems, electrical and water infrastructure, lift replacements, fire safety improvements, and structural repairs.
The move has been widely welcomed in South West London, particularly given the mounting strain on St Helier Hospital, which has faced increased demand and ageing facilities for years.
Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, Siobhain McDonagh, called the announcement a long-awaited breakthrough.
“St Helier Hospital is getting a multi-million pound boost! After years of campaigning and a recent meeting with the Minister of Health by Merton Labour, vital upgrades are on the way to improve care and modernise our local hospital. This is a huge step forward for our local NHS,” she said.
The funding follows pressure from McDonagh, Merton Council Leader Councillor Ross Garrod, and Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care Councillor Peter McCabe, who met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier this year to discuss improvements.
The announcement comes after a particularly challenging winter at St Helier. More than 2,000 patients waited over 12 hours for a hospital bed, with research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats showing that 34 per cent of patients at the trust faced delays of that length, among the worst in London.
Carshalton and Wallington MP Bobby Dean described the hospital as being at "breaking point" and criticised years of delays to infrastructure upgrades.
"Delays to the promised St Helier upgrades directly threaten the future of our hospital and leave patients and NHS staff paying the price," said Mr Dean. "The queues to get emergency treatment are spiralling across the country, but the poor state of our buildings is making the situation even worse."
Earlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that St Helier's blood department was forced to close following significant flooding caused by the hospital's poor infrastructure.
Last month, Ken Welch, former Director of Facilities, Estates and Supplies at the hospital, said the condition of the buildings raises serious concerns.
"I've seen a lot in 30 years working in the NHS, but the condition of the buildings at St Helier is among the worst," he said. "I'm seriously concerned about the risk of fire, particularly with the growing use of corridor care. But most of all, I'm worried about the safety of the patients."
Although the trust has invested £60 million in its facilities over the past five years, it acknowledges that its buildings are deteriorating faster than they can be repaired.
Boris Johnson originally promised a new hospital in 2019 under the New Hospital Programme, which was expected to cost £500 million. That figure has since risen to as much as £2 billion, and construction is now not expected to begin until the 2030s following a review by the new Labour Government.
