HEALTH bosses have recommended that St Helier Hospital lose its A&E and maternity departments.
At a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the programme board of the Better Services Better Value review put forward their preferred model for the future shape of health services in south west London.
They recommended St Helier Hospital lose its accident and emergency and maternity departments.
Under the recommendations St Helier will retain a stand-alone urgent care centre.
The board proposed a planned care centre at St Helier Hospital for non-emergency surgery for patients across south west London.
The programme board also recommended changes to children’s care in south west London with the sickest children and those requiring a longer hospital stay being sent to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
The programme board’s recommendations will be considered by the joint boards of the SW London Primary Care Trusts on Thursday, September 27.
If they accept the recommendation, it is expected to go to public consultation from October 1.
Dr Howard Freeman, local GP and joint medical director for Better Services Better Value, said in a statement: ‘After a careful and considered deliberative process, these are our recommendations.
‘No final decisions have been made. Our proposals will be subject to NHS London and Joint Boards approval and, if they get that, to full public consultation.’
