Wanted!

We are urgently looking for a new Stoneleigh Registrar. This important and valued member of the General Committee maintains the master list of members in Stoneleigh Ward and acts as a vital liaison with zone representatives by banking subscriptions collected and distributing receipt books.

We are also looking for zone representatives.

Hospital update from our MP

Written by Chris Grayling
Thursday, 03 January 2013 13:26
Dear constituent First of all, can I wish you and your family a very happy new year I am writing to you with a further update about the future of Epsom Hospital. The Better Services Better Value process, which is the review of services across South West London, has now extended to Epsom and the assessment work is beginning. I have to say that the whole process is unsatisfactory, and will be unacceptable to residents in our area. I am now planning to step up campaigning against what is happening. The most fundamental problem that we face is that this is no longer a political process, but one that is being driven by GPs across South West London. I believe that it is right that doctors should take decisions about local services, but the problem is that doctors in Surrey are getting virtually no say in what is happening. The future of Epsom is being decided by GPs in five London boroughs, something I believe is not acceptable. Epsom is being subjected to a review that was designed to meet the needs of SW London, and where the final decision making will be subject to a vote of NHS doctors groups in five London boroughs, plus Mid Surrey – in other words we only have one vote out of 6. The intention of the review team is to reach a decision by March, and then go to public consultation in April. I have already received complaints from some local GPs in Surrey that they believe that they have no say in what is happening, and that they are being asked to approve pre-ordained plans. But some of our local GPs are strongly in favour of change – so opinions are divided. To compound the issue, the review team are continuing to use figures for the level of deficit at Epsom in their presentations to, for example, London councils, that we know are now not accurate. The danger is that Epsom is written off on a false prospectus, and without the chance to really see if there is an alternative for it separate to St Helier. There are a number of things that people locally can help with.
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Sign out

Friday, 14 December 2012 13:48

Dodgy man holding a sign There has been an unsightly proliferation of illegal signs advertising paving companies in our area recently. If you spot one, it can easily be removed.

Please call the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council contact centre on 01372 732000 or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it who will happily come and remove the sign.

We ask residents not to use these companies as doing so will only encourage them to erect more illegal signs.

Victory for residents as KFC planning application is refused

Thursday, 06 December 2012 22:18

KFC logo The Planning Committee of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council this evening refused the application to turn the former Organ and Dragon pub into a KFC restaurant and takeaway.

This was a great victory for residents who believed that having a KFC takeaway would present serious traffic problems leading to worsening queues down our side roads. This view was echoed by BP, who had also urged for the application to be refused.

A majority of Residents' Association councillors on the committee voted against KFC's plans. Conservative Councillor James Clarke voted in favour of KFC's plans despite one of his fellow Conservative councillors speaking against.

KFC indicated at the meeting that they would appeal against the decision. If this happens, your Residents' Association will be fighting tooth and nail for the decision to be upheld. This means we will need carefully to analyse Surrey County Council's report, which supported the view of KFC's traffic analyst that a takeaway on the site would not have a material impact on traffic. We will then present a compelling case to the planning inspector from Bristol. If the decision is overturned, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council will be liable for KFC's costs, which could run to £15,000. So for the sake of local traffic congestion and our borough's finances, it is vital that we fight as hard as we can to protect the decision of our council.

Epsom Hospital meets quality standards following suprise inspection

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 16:02

A quality inspector

Epsom Hospital has received a clean bill of health after a recent inspection and review by the Government’s healthcare watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The review shows that during an unannounced inspection of the hospital on 29 October 2012, the CQC found that patients were treated with respect and were involved in the decisions about their care and that the care they received met their needs and protected their rights. It also showed they were protected from abuse and that the food and drink they received met their individual dietary needs.

In addition, the review shows that patients were cared for in a clean environment and protected from the risk of infection and that there were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their health and welfare needs.

The review also found that hospital staff were properly trained and supervised to the appropriate standard, that there was an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risk, and that we have a procedure in place to make sure that complaints are listened to and acted upon.

In total, Epsom Hospital was assessed against nine essential standards of quality and safety, which are used to assess whether people in hospital are treated well and receive high quality care. The hospital was found to be fully compliant in every category.

Dr Ruth Charlton, Joint Medical Director, said: “The Care Quality Commission has extremely high standards, so we’re very pleased to have met them all.

“This is excellent news for our patients and local people, and will reassure them about the high level of care they can expect from Epsom Hospital.