Nearly 10,000 people signed a petition calling for the unit in Roehampton to remain open, after learning it was under review
A South London hospital’s minor injuries unit is not going to close as locals feared, but its future is still uncertain. Local MPs said they had been reassured by leaders at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that it had ruled out closing the enhanced primary care hub at Queen Mary’s Hospital, in Roehampton, after fierce local opposition.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that while the trust will not close the service, which treats minor injuries and illnesses, aspects of it are still under review. Discussions are in the early stages and no decisions have yet been made.
Options being considered include balancing staff across the unit at Queen Mary’s and the urgent treatment centre at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, which is also run by the trust.
Residents have rallied behind the unit at Queen Mary’s since learning it was under review, with a Change.org petition calling for it to stay open gaining 9,988 signatures. The petition by Lisa Bogg, who works at Putneymead Group Medical Practice, said residents relied on the “unique and essential service” to avoid long waits at overstretched A&E departments.
The petition added: “Supporting this unit means ensuring that our community has access to timely and efficient medical care, reducing the need for unnecessary trips to A&E. Our goal is not just to keep the unit open, but to highlight the importance of localised facilities in improving patient outcomes and maintaining public health standards.”
The campaign was backed by Putney MP Fleur Anderson, Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler and Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney, who met with the trust’s bosses on September 25 to press the case for protecting the unit. The MPs confirmed after the meeting the closure of the unit had been ruled out, and leaders would potentially look at reinstating the hospital’s drop-in service which ran before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Anderson said: “This is fantastic news for our community. The number of people who signed the petition shows what a valued service it is. St George’s and Kingston hospitals are far away for Roehampton and Putney residents.”
She added: “The enhanced primary care hub is an excellent example of the NHS’s vision to provide more care in community settings. It allows patients to be treated quickly and close to home, prevents minor conditions from escalating, and is staffed by highly skilled practitioners who know the community well.”
Mr Kohler also said: “I am delighted that the trust has listened and agreed to keep the unit open. I will continue working with colleagues to ensure the commitment to reinstating the drop-in service, if feasible, is delivered, and that Queen Mary’s remains at the heart of accessible, high-quality local healthcare.”
Kate Slemeck, the trust’s Managing Director, told Wandsworth Council’s Health Committee on September 17 the trust was under an “enormous amount of financial pressure”. It is rolling out a £95million savings programme.
Ms Slemeck told councillors the trust was in the early stages of reviewing the unit at Queen Mary’s, which they knew was highly valued by the local community. She said: “I can say we won’t be closing the service, that is not our intention… I think we want to look at whether we can shape the service in a different way that retains it, but balances it across the St George’s site and the Queen Mary’s site and has more rotation of staff between the sites.”
The LDRS understands the trust is carrying out detailed analysis and will consider feedback from staff, patients and residents before making any changes to the unit.
Got a story? Email [email protected].
Don’t miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.
