Home > News > Family of hospitals join up to deliver improved care to local people

Published: 15 May 2023

Hospitals launch new five-year strategy committing to providing outstanding care, together, for the people of south west London, Surrey and beyond.

Amongst its ambitions for 2028, St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group – known as gesh – has strengthened its commitment to building a specialist emergency care hospital in Sutton, reducing its impact on the planet, tackling health inequalities and working with partners to join up care around patients’ needs.

The Group – the largest NHS healthcare provider in south west London – carries out more than 900,000 outpatient appointments, sees 300,000 people in its emergency departments, delivers 8,000 babies, and completes 100,000 planned procedures every year.

With this in mind, the strategy has been developed in collaboration with more than 2,000 local people including staff, patients and members of the public alike from across Surrey Downs, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth.

This is the Group’s first strategy, having formed in 2021, which has been developed at a time when demand for services is rising, the population is ageing and the health service continues to recover from Covid-19.

Gillian Norton, Group Chairman for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said:

“St George’s and Epsom and St Helier Trusts coming together as a family of hospitals and community services has given us the opportunity to redefine how we provide the best possible services to our patients. It also gives us the chance to reflect on the role we will play in our local communities and across the wider NHS.

“While our two Trusts have distinct identities, we’ll work together to maximise the benefits of being a Group. We will also act as anchor institutions – this means we’ll have a positive impact on our local communities beyond healthcare.”

Dr James Marsh, Acting Group Chief Executive for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said:

“We want to provide high-quality local services for the people of Surrey Downs, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth, and be a major tertiary centre for south west London – particularly known for our specialist major trauma, renal, neuroscience, paediatric, and cancer services.

“The four aims for 2028 outlined in our new strategy are designed to benefit the communities we serve, and the 17,000 dedicated staff members who work across our Group. We are committed to delivering outstanding care, together, and this strategy serves as our roadmap to achieving that.”

The four aims – Collaboration and partnership; Affordable healthcare, fit for the future; Right care, right place, right time; and Empowered, engaged staff – will support the Group to deliver outstanding care for patients.

Notes to editors