Kidney Network

28 May 2021

Dear Ginny and Fiona

We are writing on behalf of the NHS London Kidney Network in support of the planning application to relocate one of the kidney dialysis satellite dialysis units, provided by Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, from Purley to Coulsdon, in South London.

Within the London Kidney Network we work with the seven renal units that together provide in-centre haemodialysis to around 5,800 patients in London. Patients travel three times a week to spend an average of four hours for life-saving treatment at one of the 25 locations in South London.

Our patients are classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, meaning that they are at high risk of infection from COVID.

We understand that the request for planning permission for the chosen site in Coulsdon has been refused by Council on the grounds that a change of use would result in the loss of B8 floor space and would be inconsistent with the Local Plan for Croydon.

We request that the following points are taken into account in any revised planning application considered by the Planning Committee:

1. It is important to be able to offer dialysis locally for patients so that the disruption to daily lives is minimised, and access to care is as straightforward as possible. To meet the clinical needs of patients and optimise their care, satellite dialysis units should be readily accessible to a given cohort of patients within a limited travel time (30 minutes) and have suitable on- site parking.

2. We recognise the difficulty of finding suitable locations for dialysis in the conurbation of London. It took several years to find suitable space for some existing dialysis units. In our experience the conversion or new build of many of the successful satellite dialysis units have been the result of close and supportive collaboration between local authority and NHS teams working in partnership to meet the needs of patients and residents. The chosen site has good access for patient transport, and also offers ideal ground-floor space. It is also located away from residential areas to minimise disruption as it is planned to operate six days a week from 0630 to 2300.

3. The change of use of a building from a commercial site to a healthcare facility, specifically to accommodate a kidney dialysis satellite unit, has been granted by councils in London, and in other regions in , and the precedent is established. It is worth noting that the facility will be run by a private provider as a partner to the NHS, so is in fact within a commercial relationship.

4. There are 25 individual dialysis locations in South London, each meeting the needs of a specific geographical group of patients, and each working at near to full capacity. These dialysis units work as a network across London, with carefully managed boundaries and patient flows. The impact of not locating a satellite dialysis unit in a location such as the Coulsdon site will have a negative consequential impact on all other dialysis sites in South London.

The proposed site is specifically chosen to meet the needs of residents and patients in the South of the Croydon borough. To lose this facility from the local area will disadvantage not only local people by making the six journeys every week more onerous and difficult, but also people from neighbouring boroughs.

Having reviewed the options available to Epsom & St Helier Hospital, The London Kidney Network supports the application to create a satellite dialysis unit at the chosen location in Coulsdon and believes this is in the best interests of the kidney patients and their families in Croydon.

Yours sincerely

Dr Rob Elias Stephen Cass Clinical Lead Director

London Kidney Network