“It was a pleasure to see the life changing great care, real innovation and the collaboration with community services.” | News

The Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, praised the innovative work we are doing to help make sure patients recover sooner on a recent visit to the Sutton Health and Care, Reablement Unit at St Helier Hospital.  

Amanda was given a tour of our Reablement Unit, which gave her the opportunity to speak with our staff and patients. She saw first-hand the difference the unit is making in helping people regain independence and prevent future admissions through intensive therapy sessions. This included one of the daily exercise classes led by physiotherapists to get patients up and moving to improve their recovery and reduce the time they need to spend at the hospital. 

Since opening in December 2023, the therapy-led unit has already treated over 700 patients, with 30% of those discharged requiring less support at home from social services in comparison to what was originally planned. This is largely due to the difference the therapy offered by the unit is making to the health and mobility of patients.  

Amanda also took the opportunity to film some for her annual Christmas message where she talked about the pressures on NHS services, thanked staff and urged people to get vaccinated against winter viruses, including flu.  She also urged people to have their say about the future of the NHS as part of the NHS 10-year plan consultation. 

To top the visit off, she joined a carol concert organised by our Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, with children from St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School as the Christmas lights were turned on at St Helier.