Amid a lot of very grim news regarding the national economy, one important announcement from Chancellor Gideon Osborne in the House of Commons today as far as local health provision in and around Croydon.

Osborne confirmed in today’s Comprehensive Spending Review that the £219 million investment planned for St Helier Hospital is safe.

Osborne named the hospital, in Carshalton, as first in a list of commitments the Government has guaranteed to keep. Nothing to do, we assume, with St Helier being the birthplace of John Major.

According to the Sutton Guardian, Paul Burstow, the LibDem MP for Sutton and Cheam, said: “We have fought long and hard with the support of local residents, patients, NHS staff and local Councillors to get the money for St Helier.

“The Chancellor has made it crystal clear the money is there. The Hospital Trust must now go full steam ahead to re-build the hospital.”

More here Osborne announces £219 million St Helier Hospital plans are safe (From Sutton Guardian).