The possibility of closing Queen Mary's Hospital has been published in official documents for the first time

MP calls for Sidcup hospital action

Robin Cottle, Reporter Wednesday, June 13, 2012
1:45 PM

A politician has called for Queen Mary’s Hospital to be moved to a different NHS Trust to ensure its long-term future.

Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Mr Brokenshire wants the hospital in Frognal Avenue, Sidcup, to be transferred from South London Healthcare Trust (SLHT), which is currently in charge of running the hospital, to Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust which operates urgent care and other services from Queen Mary’s.

The Conservative MP sent a letter to the chief executives of SLHT and Oxleas, Dr Chris Streather and Stephen Firn respectively, on Monday (June 12) to put his point of view across.

Mr Brokenshire said: “I am concerned that the continuing financial challenges facing SLHT are a remaining obstacle to delivering the plans. A solution needs to be found to make the vision we all share for Queen Mary’s into a reality.

“I’ve felt for some time that transferring services to Oxleas would provide stability and inject further confidence into the delivery plan to get the hospital’s future on a positive track.

“The question of the ownership and management of the hospital remains a key factor.”

Helen Ellis, of the Patient Action Group, does not believe this is the answer to the hospital’s problems.

She said: “Moving Queen Mary’s will only be a short-term solution.” Oxleas currently provides community health, mental health and learning disability services for patients in Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

A spokesman for SLHT said: “If the changing of actual ownership of the site helps with our provision of these services for patients and importantly helps the financial position of SLHT, we will continue to enter into serious and constructive discussions with our neighbours at Oxleas.”

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