Public meeting to quiz NHS chiefs

The council said it would be a chance to hear what NHS chiefs were planning

Health chiefs will be quizzed on the future of Epsom hospital at a public meeting in the new year.

It follows an announcement by Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) that future commissioning at the hospital will be unveiled before Christmas.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council said it was organising a public meeting in January, when key players would be invited to explain the plans firsthand.

Epsom and St Helier NHS chief Samantha Jones said it would be a helpful event.

She said: "As soon as we know what the PCT want from us, we will be able to finalise our plans for Epsom Hospital.

"We understand from the PCT that we will have their 'commissioning intentions' by November and, as such, we have already committed publicly to launching a vision for the Epsom site by the end of March next year."

Investment decisions

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust runs Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital in Carshalton which serve a combined population of more than 420,000 people.

Epsom councillor Chris Long said the meeting would be a chance to hear what health chiefs were proposing.

He said: "We want this to happen as soon as possible. We will invite the key players to tell our residents firsthand how they intend to provide our services in the future."

He added: "We are concerned that investment decisions are being made by the Trust for the St Helier site but there is nothing yet made public about Epsom."