Patient safety at risk in crumbling hospital Boris Johnson promised to replace

Ward closures and flooding in dilapidated buildings in Epsom as one of 40 new hospitals pledged remains unbuilt

Patients, doctors and nurses are enduring constant ward closures and flooding in “dilapidated and unpleasant” buildings because a new hospital promised by the government has still not been delivered, one of its most senior medics has warned.

Patient safety could soon be at risk unless the replacement for St Helier Hospital, Epsom, is finally confirmed by ministers, according to the outgoing chief medical officer of its NHS trust. Some of the buildings pre-date the NHS, while wards have been shut due to sinking foundations.