The blood department at a South London hospital was forced to close on Monday due to significant flooding linked to the poor state of the building.
Patients at St Helier in Sutton were shocked to learn that their appointments had to be rescheduled at short notice due to widespread flooding in the phlebotomy service on the ground floor of Ferguson House.
It is understood that the flooding was caused by a partial ceiling collapse. As a result, many patients have had their blood tests delayed for several days while essential works are undertaken.
Some urgent blood tests went ahead, however most patients have been told to visit Epsom General Hospital, Jubilee Health Centre in Wallington, or Malvern Centre in Sutton if they require urgent tests.
St Helier Hospital has been plagued by leaks and cracked walls (ITV News)
A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust apologised to those affected, saying: “We apologise to any patients who have had their blood tests or audiology appointments cancelled at St Helier today due to flooding.
“Routine blood tests will resume from tomorrow, and patients can reschedule their appointment or attend a walk-in clinic if urgent. We are working to resume audiology appointments as soon as possible and are contacting any patients affected.”
Patients with blood tests booked for Tuesday should report to the phlebotomy reception as normal. However, many remain concerned that the building’s deteriorating state will lead to more uncertainty in the future.
The poor state of St Helier Hospital has been the subject of recent scrutiny. Some buildings predate the NHS itself and patients have voiced concern over broken ceiling tiles and drip-catching buckets.
Picture shows cracks beginning to form in the ceiling of the hospital (Epsom and St Helier hospital)
Hopes were raised when the Epsom and St Helier trust was announced as one of 40 trusts promised a new hospital under Boris Johnson’s programme. This promise included a new specialist emergency care hospital in Sutton and essential upgrades to Epsom and St Helier.
Yet these hopes were dashed in September 2024 when Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a review of the scheme, leaving the trust uncertain whether it will receive the promised funding.
It is understood that a decision on the hospital program is now expected within the month.
Local MPs have demanded that ministers greenlight plans for the new hospital. Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell, said in August that her constituents “cannot wait any longer” for investment.
Brown mould inside the hosptial (Epsom and St Helier hospital)
Dr Ruth Charlton, chief medical officer for Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, that runs St Helier, has previously told the Standard that the trust’s “ageing estate was not fit for purpose”.
Figures published last year show that more than £3.6 billion is needed to fix the maintenance backlog in London hospitals.
Analysis of NHS Digital data by the Standard shows that the maintenance backlog in the capital stood at £3,696,133,145 as of April 2024, a rise of 15 per cent on the year before.
The backlog bill is a measure of how much cash is needed to restore buildings to a good state and refers to maintenance work that should already have taken place rather than any that is planned.