The online article "Andy Burnham stays silent on future of Epsom Hospital under a Labour Government" states that the future of Epsom hospital remains unknown as Mr Burnham has not made a specific statement this week about Epsom. No further statement was required to clarify the position of The Labour Party
Andy Burnham made a specific statement about St Helier Hospital as he had previously stated it at a meeting with people from Sutton in 2014 and was restating that previous commitment. The absolutely crucial thing is that he ruled out the Sutton Hospital site as that has been the biggest threat to Epsom as we all know from the 2004-06 review. When Sutton was ruled out in 2006 and St Helier chosen for a rebuild, this did not threaten Epsom at all and from 2006 to 2010 under the last Labour Government there was no threat to Epsom. The latest threats have only happened since 2010 when Chris Grayling was in Government. We had the BSBV review in 2013/14 and in 2014 St Helier lost its money for a rebuild thus putting Sutton Hospital back in the frame in 2015 as an option and threatening Epsom again as we saw from the recent leak. Thus Andy Burnham's statement is very clear as it reinstates the status quo of April 2010 before Chris Grayling became a minister and that protected Epsom.
Kate Chinn
Labour Party council candidate for Court ward
- Send your letters to: letters@epsomguardian.co.uk
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