Epsom Hospital A&E and maternity 'safe' after merger

Epsom Hospital is to be de-merged from St Helier and Sutton Hospitals next year

Plans for the future of a Surrey hospital following a merger next year have been outlined.

Accident and emergency and maternity services would continue to be provided at Epsom Hospital, local people were told at a meeting at Epsom Town Hall.

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the preferred partner for Epsom, which is currently part of Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.

The existing partnership with the south London hospital will end on 1 April.

Wednesday's public meeting was told A&E and maternity services at Epsom were safe as long as staffing levels were maintained, but more mothers would need to be attracted to Epsom.

Cancer services

Epsom will also become a base for acute mental health services and a hub for community and social care services.

It will be a centre for planned cancer services and a planned surgical centre for east and north Surrey. There will also be a private health care facility at the hospital.

The process to find a new partner for Epsom began last year after Epsom NHS was deemed unable to achieve foundation trust status alone.

Chief executive of Ashford and St Peter's Andrew Liles has said the merger will provide a stable future for Epsom as part of a larger catchment area of 600,000 people.

St Helier could see the closure of its accident and emergency and maternity wards under a separate review of hospital services in south London.