The borough’s Liberal Democrats are campaigning for the government to agree to fund a £400 million investment programme to make St Helier Hospital “fit for purpose”.

A public meeting was held in Sutton on Thursday, August 31, regarding the future of hospital services in the borough.

Liberal Democrat MP, Tom Brake, chaired the meeting at Strawberry Lodge in Carshalton.

The MP for Carshalton and Wallington said: “At the meeting unsurprisingly, people expressed overwhelming support for retaining critical services at St Helier.

St Helier serves a large population which, particularly in the north of its catchment area in and around the St Helier estate, has a high level of medical need, linked to an ageing population, as well as higher levels of deprivation.

“For the sake of the thousands who depend on its care, we need to secure up to £400 million to make St Helier Hospital fit for purpose.”

Chief executive of the St Helier Trust, Daniel Elkeles, and leader of Sutton Council, Ruth Dombey, both spoke at the event.

Cllr Dombey said: “It is thanks to Sutton Council that money the Borough has spent on buying land from the Trust in Belmont has been invested in the hospital building, rather than being grabbed by the Treasury.

“We will continue to work in partnership with the hospital Trust to get the best health services possible for our residents.”