I was very interested to read the article by Sophia Sleigh entitled "United front to save A&E units" in last week’s Epsom Guardian. This article was accompanied by the now very familiar "Protect Epsom Hospital" logo and a photograph of Epsom MP Chris Grayling. This article stated "Politicians from all three major parties have united against a ‘flawed’ healthcare review threatening Epsom & St Helier hospitals’ accident and emergency (A&E) wards".

It went on to say that the group of MP’s Chris Grayling, Paul Burstow, Tom Brake, Paul Beresford and Siobhain McDonagh have sent a letter to the leaders of the three clinical commissioning groups (CCG’s), Surrey Downs, Merton and Sutton outlining 14 flaws of BSBV. The article alleges that the BSBV process has been postponed to carry out more consultations. In the latest Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals Board meeting documents, a BSBV progress paper indicated that BSBV will have completed its pre-consultation business case by the end of March expecting to go to public consultation "in the Spring" possibly after the May local elections in Surrey!!

At the end of the article there is a postscript which states "Read the MPs’ letter at epsomguardian.co.uk. I failed to find the joint letter from Chris Grayling to the leader of the Surrey Downs CCG, but what I did find was a joint letter from Paul Burstow to the leader of Sutton CCG accompanied with a "Save St Helier Hospital" slogan. I thought this was the Epsom Guardian not the Sutton Guardian!!

I would expect the Epsom Guardian to feature the Epsom MP’s joint letter to Surrey Downs CCG’s leader not the letter from Paul Burstow to the leader of Sutton CCG! I wonder what your readers think?

Bob Mackison
Via email