Forum Topic

Queen Mary's Hospital

It appears they are going to shut the Operating Theatres in the Car Park to save money.

Barbara Stevens ● 12d16 Comments

Both Conservatives and Labour have used PFI so as to fund large expensive infrastructure projects without calling on the public purse but there was not enough of a balance in the contracts between private and public benefit.Political pressures and interference also aren't helpful.   

Philippa Bond ● 2d

If I recall correctly Tony Coleman was the Labour MP at the time - when I questioned him at the school gate I got no response. That government lost my vote at the next election.Hopefully the PFI will be paid off by our children and not our grandchildren if lucky enough to have any.I doubt that Labour/Conservative are going to educate the proposed 16 year olds as to how much debt they have ladden on to them through PFI and other mismanaged schemes.

Ed Robinson ● 2d

"A 2004 private finance deal that will cost the NHS £460 million for a £55 million hospital is driving the closure of vital local services."Is the building convertible into flats, I wonder?Perhaps the NHS may be forced to find suitable premises to squat."For just £13bn of investment, the NHS has been landed with an £80bn bill." (Institute For Public Policy Research, 2019).

David Ainsworth ● 2d

Thank you for the article, Ed.  The situation with Queen Mary's Hospital is truly shocking and too depressing for words!  When my son was born in the eaely 1990s, the pediatric consultant in Queen Mary's was all in favour of transferring the pediatric ward to St George's because it was "a bigger and better hospital".....  :-( :-(

Ivonne Holliday ● 2d

Another excellent in depth article by Putney News."IN BRIEF: A 2004 private finance deal that will cost the NHS £460 million for a £55 million hospital is driving the closure of vital local services. Unless the government acts to break PFI contracts, Queen Mary’s faces being reduced to a shell – despite being a purpose-built, modern hospital that patients love."https://putney.news/2025/08/10/why-queen-marys-hospital-cant-escape-a-20-year-old-financial-trap/

Ed Robinson ● 2d

I know the lorries in the car park were being used, because a man that stands at the betting office at the end of my road had dreadful marks on his face and back of his hand, and people were telling him to go to hospital. Well they did a fantastic job in the the lorries on his face. It was Cancer, a shame for these to be taken away.

Barbara Stevens ● 7d

I just checked, as the search wasn't working on my phone.I could not find any current application. Not even the ones for the temporary buildings.It seems a quick change of mind we will have to see what they have in plan for the site.

Ed Robinson ● 7d

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Barbara Stevens ● 7d

The corridors of the old hospital were really long. I remember when I had my son 51yrs ago, my old mum had to walk right down to M ward. I was in for a month, with high blood pressure.

Barbara Stevens ● 7d

I really don't think properties will be built there, there are loads of places that have been built anyway. I remember the size of the old hospital that was there and the limb fitting. They also used the car park for ex rays as well has doing  operations. Seems a shame to get rid of it. Perhaps they will build onto the Hospital and make it bigger.

Barbara Stevens ● 7d

From my own experience there is certainly an over provision of car parking at the hospital. But where have you seen plans for housing to be built there?

Andy Pike ● 7d

https://www.gov.wales/new-nhs-wales-chief-executive-appointedHere's wishing her luck with her huge new challenge!

Philippa Bond ● 7d

It can take months for residents and businesses to get extra electrical capacity in London partly because of the increase in data centres.  I don't know with hospitals how fast it would be but they would want a lot more electricity.

Philippa Bond ● 7d

It will save £3m a year. "“significant investment to plug them into a permanent power supply”"It's Roehampton not the Outer Hebrides.I assume the PFI contracts may it too expensive. The generators are probably a means of getting around the legal restrictions.Will look later but suspect they want to build homes on the car park. The question is who will they house in these new homes?https://putney.news/2025/07/30/queen-marys-to-close-four-operating-theatres-in-cost-saving-measure/

Ed Robinson ● 10d

Ed  You've has been commenting on the use of diesel to run these extra capacity buildings that were put in to reduce waiting lists due to the pandemic for a long time.It seems that the cost of running them and/or the cost and availability of installing new and cleaner power for them is too much and there is to be reorganisation with more being done at St Georges in Tooting.It seems that the CEO is moving on too.  Most hospitals still seem to have staff shortages.

Philippa Bond ● 11d

I had some treatment in one of those.I would not like to imagine what the running costs are.The car parks building run on diesel.I'm not too familiar with inside the hospital main buildings but it always gives the impression of being empty.The MRI machine doesn't seem to be particular busy either.Another Labour Party PFI disaster!I suspect they are going to build flats where the car park is.

Ed Robinson ● 12d