Hospital campaigners take the fight to Sutton Council and Epsom and Ewell Council

Since the controversial decision to remove acute services from St Helier and Epsom Hospitals was taken by the Clinical Commissioning Groups, local residents and patients have been campaigning against the decision.

Following last month’s socially distanced protest opposite St Helier Hospital, Hands Off Our Hospital protesters drove in convoy from St Helier Hospital to Sutton Council offices on Friday 21st August at 4pm, where they were met by a group of campaigners outside the Civic Centre.

Featured in the convoy (complete with siren, hooter and placards) was a truck with a hospital bed occupied by a dummy ‘patient’, to illustrate the loss of services from St Helier. Outside the Civic Centre, the protesters made their demands heard to the Council - listen to patients and residents, take our objections into account and refer the decision back to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for independent scrutiny.

On Tuesday afternoon 25th August, protesters in Epsom took up the fight. Drivers tooted their support for campaigners outside Epsom hospital and the eye-catching vehicle convoy which drove round the one way system and past the hospital. The group then made their way to the Council Offices where they demanded that Epsom and Ewell Council should refer the decision on hospital acute services back to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The majority group on the council have so far declined to hold a vote on this issue which is vital to prevent a loss of hospital services for Surrey residents.