The blood department at a South London hospital was forced to close on Monday (January 13) due to significant flooding linked to the poor state of the building. As a result, many patients had their blood tests cancelled at the last minute.
Patients at St Helier in Sutton were shocked to learn on Monday morning 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.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands 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.
St Helier Hospital is older than the NHS itself
(Image: Google Maps)
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.
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 (January 14) 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 in the national media, with articles focusing on how much of the building predates the NHS itself. Broken ceiling tiles and drip-catching buckets are familiar sights to many, but more concerning is the apparent threat this disrepair poses to patients.
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. The LDRS understands that a decision on the hospital program is now expected within the month.
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