Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup should keep name says Trust Special Administrator (From News Shopper)

Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup should keep name says Trust Special Administrator in South London Healthcare Trust report

12:02pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

QUEEN Mary’s Hospital should keep its name under coming changes to healthcare provision in Bexley.

The term ‘health campus’ was used for the Sidcup site during the making of the Trust Special Administrator’s report into the future of South London Healthcare Trust.

But Matthew Kershaw’s final proposals for the future of the debt-ridden body released on Tuesday (January 8) recommended the hospital’s name be kept the same.

This was welcomed by Bexley Council leader Councillor Teresa O’Neill who says she hopes health secretary Jeremy Hunt will endorse the report making QMH into a provider for a range of health and social care services.

She said: "I am pleased that the Trust Special Administrator’s final report will bring an end to uncertainty about the future of Queen Mary’s Hospital and puts forward a plan to develop our hospital as a hub for health and social care services in the borough.

"We are involved in developing the delivery plans for Queen Mary’s and will monitor the impact of all the changes over the next three years to make sure that our residents continue to receive the high quality healthcare they deserve."

Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett added: "I am pleased that the Trust Special Administrator has recommended that it becomes a hub for important health and social care services for local people and I shall be writing to the secretary of state for health to urge him to adopt the proposals in respect of Queen Mary's Hospital."

Services planned in future at QMH include: outpatient clinics; diagnostic tests and screening; antenatal and post-natal care; day case surgery; chemotherapy; radiotherapy and a children’s development centre.

Mr Kershaw was appointed to run SLHT after it was plunged into administration in July 2012 having ended 2011 with a deficit of £69m.

Mr Hunt is expected to announce his decision on the TSA’s final report by February 1.