Newsletter - Sat 18 Nov, 2023

In this issue

• Police have appealed for witnesses after a teenager was robbed in Priory Park on Monday afternoon (13 November).

• East Surrey Hospital’s maternity service has been downgraded to “requires improvement”, following a September inspection by the Care Quality Commission, but the hospital as a whole has maintained its overall “outstanding” rating.

• Two bars have opened in Reigate recently: wine bar Simona’s in the High Street, and Cloonys cocktail bar and shisha in Bell Street.

Other news

• There’s a day of festive fun (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) at the Belfry shopping centre in Redhill today, Saturday 18 November, ahead of their Chistmas light switch-on at 4pm.

• The Gatwick Airport northern runway consultation closes tomorrow, Sunday 19 November, at 23:59, having been extended because of a fault on the Planning Inspectorate’s website on the final day of the original period. (Anyone who submitted an e-mail response because of that fault needs to resubmit.) More details are here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

• If you’re a fan of podcasts and hearing about what’s going on locally, you may want to head over to the Planet Reigate podcast (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre), who’ve just posted their tenth weekly episode. A recent episode, number 8, was a Stripey Stork special, taking a look behind the scenes at the Reigate-based baby bank charity.

• Last Sunday saw borough Remembrance Day services in Redhill, Banstead and Horley. Some photos posted to social media can be found here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

• A season (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) of festive films is under way at the Light cinema in Redhill, including many established favourites.

• In parliament earlier this week, none of Surrey’s MPs voted to support a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, with six of them voting against, and five having no vote recorded. A report from Emily Coady-Stemp, Local Democracy Reporter, is here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

• Young people aged 20 and under can now take advantage of £1 single bus fares on many routes, with a Surrey LINK card - details here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Witness appeal after robbery in Priory Park

Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses after a teenager was robbed in Reigate’s Priory Park on Monday afternoon (13 November).

Police said this week: “The incident took place at around 5.20pm and involved the victim being threatened with a knife and having his phone stolen from him. 

“The suspects were described as five young men wearing balaclavas.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has other information that could assist officers, is asked to contact them using these contact details and reference number (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Inspectors downgrade maternity services at East Surrey Hospital

• Entrance sign at East Surrey Hospital (SASH)

Maternity services at East Surrey Hospital have been downgraded to “requires improvement” by Care Quality Commission inspectors after a September inspection.

Their report, published this week, raised concerns with staffing numbers not always meeting planned levels, infection control measures, checks on emergency equipment and medicine management.

These areas are listed as needing to be addressed in order for the service to improve, along with actions relating to audits, completing documents and safeguarding training for junior doctors.

The chief nurse at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has said a robust improvement plan has been put in place, with immediate actions being taken to address issues in the CQC report.

The CQC report also highlighted many positives within maternity services, including examples of “outstanding practice”, and the hospital as a whole remains rated “outstanding”.

A full write-up by Emily Coady-Stemp, Local Democracy Reporter, on what was found by the inspectors, and what the trust is doing to improve things, can be read here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).