Maternity services at St Helier Hospital in south London are set to be temporarily relocated for two years from next spring, following the detection of harmful bacteria in the women's health block. The discovery of low levels of Legionella and Pseudomonas bacteria, linked to ongoing water infrastructure issues, has necessitated urgent repairs to the ageing facility. The announcement has sparked concern among Merton Council and local MPs, who are now demanding urgent assurances that the relocation will be strictly temporary and that services will return to St Helier.
Political Pressure Mounts Over Temporary Relocation
Local leaders, including Merton Council and MPs from across party lines, have expressed strong opposition to the proposals. Merton's Labour-led Council urged the NHS to confirm they will not reduce, permanently close, or relocate maternity services. In a letter to Mat Shaw, group chief executive at St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, Councillor Peter McCabe and Dame Siobhain McDonagh said any closure or relocation would be highly significant for the communities they represent and would cause deep concern and distress amongst residents.
Liberal Democrat MPs from Sutton, Merton and Surrey have also written to Health Minister Karin Smyth seeking urgent clarification. They questioned whether all alternatives have been explored and warned that maternity services at Kingston Hospital are already under pressure. Paul Kohler, Lib Dem MP for Wimbledon, said: “It is especially worrying that services supporting women, mothers, babies and vulnerable patients are once again being affected by an ageing NHS estate. Staff at St Helier continue to provide outstanding care in extremely difficult conditions and deserve far better support.”
Repairs Inevitable Due to Pre-War Pipework
The Trust said that while the building's water is safe and closely monitored through regular testing and filtration, significant work is needed to provide a sustainable and permanent solution, as the pre-war pipework will need to be replaced. The repairs are estimated to take approximately two years, and the Trust aims to keep as many services on site as possible. Mat Shaw said: “This situation is immensely frustrating given the hard work that's gone into improving our services, as recognised in our recent CQC report, and the national maternity experience survey, as well as feedback from the people we look after.” He added: “It is clear to me, our staff who work in the building, and those who are cared for in it, that we have great women's services at St Helier.”
However, the Trust insisted the repairs were not possible while maintaining a good birth, gynaecology and fertility experience and safe environment for babies and families in the building. While the locations for relocated services have not yet been confirmed, nearby hospitals including Epsom, Croydon University and Kingston are expected to be considered.
Context of A&E Pressures and Funding
The development emerges in the same month that the hospital secured £57 million to expand its A&E department. Recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections revealed that the A&E was routinely operating at more than ten times its intended capacity. The recently awarded NHS investment will fund a larger, redesigned facility with improved clinical spaces, alongside a new Urgent Treatment Centre and expanded Same Day Emergency Care services to reduce avoidable admissions and overnight stays.
However, the repair proposals also come against the backdrop of continued delays to the Sutton Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (SECH) in Belmont, with construction not expected to begin until the 2030s. MPs and Lib Dem leaders in Sutton and Merton councils have compared the SECH delays to hospitals prioritised for rebuilding due to RAAC safety risks. “We firmly believe St Helier Hospital, and the proposed new Sutton SECH must be prioritised in the same manner before more essential services are forced to relocate,” they said.
