Lib Dems call for honesty and action on St Helier
At last night's Council meeting, Merton Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Councillor Jenifer Gould demanded answers from Labour on St Helier Hospital funding.
Cllr Gould asked directly how much of St Helier's repair backlog would be addressed by the recently announced £12 million from the Labour Government to Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.
Despite public celebrations from Labour over a supposed £12 million funding boost, Labour councillors admitted in the chamber that this figure is not the full picture, and that they do not know how much money St Helier is actually getting.
If £9 million of the £12 million was already allocated funding, that could mean as little as £3 million in new investment, a tiny fraction of the eye-watering £150 million plus repair backlog the hospital faces to fix its crumbling buildings.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for immediate transparency on the real funding figure for St Helier and demanding that Merton Council ramp up pressure on the Government to deliver the full amount needed to make the hospital safe and fit for purpose.
Commenting, Cllr Gould said:
"Labour have been running this campaign for nearly 30 years, yet they can't even confirm the figures. Instead of being honest with residents, they've jumped on an announcement for political gain, celebrating a so-called 'victory' when they don't even know what's been secured. It's irresponsible and insulting to the residents who rely on this hospital."
"Let's be clear, any funding is welcome, but this is not the victory Labour are pretending it is. The public deserve the truth."
“Celebrating before knowing the facts isn't just misleading, it damages the long-term campaign for real investment. The fight for St Helier is far from over, and pretending otherwise helps no one.”
[ENDS]
Notes to editors