After recent media coverage we wrote to James Blythe, Managing Director at St Helier Hospital. He told us that patients deserve a better hospital environment, and that while they do everything they can to ensure patients get safe and effective care, this relies on workarounds which aren't sustainable.
Recent media reports have highlighted serious problems with the ageing buildings at St Helier Hospital. We've raised our concerns with hospital management and will be taking further action.
We know from feedback through our website and at community events that many people in Sutton still aren’t able to see an NHS dentist. We have recently been told by a local NHS manager that there are no dentists in Sutton accepting new NHS patients.
Access to NHS dentists is one of the issues – second only to access to GP services – that most concerns people about local health services. People are also concerned about the cost of dental treatment. Healthwatch Sutton is working with other Healthwatches in South West London and with local NHS bodies to highlight these problems and improve services.