As Prime Minister Boris Johnson excludes St Helier Hospital from his £1.8 billion NHS announcement this week, Sutton Liberal Democrats say the Conservatives are abandoning Sutton’s NHS.

The list of 20 hospitals around England includes only two allocations for London: in north-east London and for Croydon University Hospital. Not a penny has been announced for St Helier Hospital.

The Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust is seeking government funds to build a new hospital for acute services. This would include A&E, emergency surgery, hospital births, amongst other vital services.

During the 2010-15 coalition government, Liberal Democrats had ensured £219 million was earmarked for investment in St Helier – funds the Conservatives withdrew after the 2015 general election.

Tom Brake MP and Sutton Liberal Democrats are leading the campaign for the new hospital to be built by St Helier and in the borough. Tom Brake’s petition has already been signed by 3,000 local residents.

Commenting, Tom Brake said:

“Boris Johnson has been prime minister for two weeks and already he’s abandoned Sutton’s NHS. The Conservatives cannot be trusted with the future of St Helier Hospital, which desperately needs further investment. As Boris excludes St Helier from getting new funds, it is clear that only Liberal Democrats will stand up for Sutton’s vital NHS services.”