St Helier Hospital's maternity services are facing the prospect of closure and relocation, potentially leaving thousands of women and families across Sutton, Merton and surrounding communities facing longer journeys to access essential maternity care.

We are calling for the protection of maternity services at St Helier Hospital and for the voices of local families and frontline NHS staff to be heard before any decisions are made.

Pregnancy and childbirth can be unpredictable. When complications arise, timely access to specialist maternity care can be critical. The potential relocation of these services raises serious concerns about increased travel times, accessibility during emergencies, pressure on neighbouring hospitals and the impact on vulnerable families.

For many local residents, St Helier is more than just a hospital. It is where generations of babies have been born, where families have received vital care and where dedicated midwives, doctors and NHS staff have supported women through some of the most significant moments of their lives.

We recognise that St Helier's ageing infrastructure requires urgent investment. However, local families deserve clear evidence that any proposed changes will improve maternity care without compromising safety or accessibility.

We are calling on NHS decision-makers, local representatives and the Government to:

1. Protect accessible, safe and high-quality maternity services for the communities currently served by St Helier Hospital.
2. Publish clear evidence of how any proposed relocation would affect emergency access, journey times, patient safety and neighbouring hospital capacity.
3. Meaningfully consult local residents, expectant parents, midwives, doctors and other maternity staff before any final decision.
4. Provide transparency around the proposals, decision-making process and future investment in local maternity care.
5. Fully consider options for retaining and improving maternity services at St Helier.

Maternity care is not a luxury. It is an essential service that women, babies and families depend on.

Our community deserves to know that decisions about its future are being made with patient safety, accessibility and the needs of local families at their heart.

Please sign and share this petition to help ensure that the voices of our community are heard.

Together, we can make it clear how much accessible, local maternity care matters.