Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg vows to use any power he has to save Kingston Hospital (From Surrey Comet)

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg vows to use any power he has to save Kingston Hospital

Nick Clegg said he would use any influence he had to help protect Kingston Hospital's maternity unit if there was a hung parliament.

Nick Clegg hopes for Kingston Hospital

The Liberal Democrat leader, followed by a press scrum after Thursday's leaders debate, was visiting Kingston Hospital - where his third son Migel was born 14 months ago - on Saturday.

He told the Surrey Comet: "I'm going to use any power and influence to do anything I can to help the NHS and do anything that stops anything that would threaten this maternity ward."

Despite Conservative Party leader David Cameron's promise last week to scrap the review of the NHS services in south west London, Mr Clegg said Kingston residents should instead vote Lib Dem because they were the first to highlight the issue.

The third party leader said a consultant in the hospital had asked him how he could protect the maternity ward and Mr Clegg had told him "less spending on managers and bureaucrats."

Nick Clegg hopes for Kingston Hospital

His wife Miriam Clegg, an international trade lawyer, made a rare appearance on the campaign trail and joked that this was a happier visit to Kingston than last time because she was not giving birth.

But she said she still had not forgiven her husband for falling asleep during her labour.

Mr Clegg was also in Sutton on Sunday, answering questions from members of the public at a hastily-arranged walkabout.

The next election debate takes place on Thursday.