Health commissioners have decided to close the New Epsom and Ewell community hospital and move its services to Epsom General Hospital.

Members of the governing board of the Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) opted to close the hospital after the conclusion of a 14-week public consultation running from January to May.

From January: Have your say on GPs' plans for Molesey, Cobham, New Epsom and Ewell, Leatherhead and Dorking community hospitals

CCG officers recommended that option 2, which would close the Epsom and Ewell Community Hospital and see Leatherhead Community Hospital developed as a planned care centre, be put forward for approval.

Other options suggested that Molesey Hospital would close, with inpatient services transferred to Cobham Hospital and outpatient services moved to other areas such as the Emberbrook Clinic or GP services.

Surrey Comet:

Molesey Hospital was spared from closure

Clinical chairman Dr Claire Fuller said: “This decision is based on the improvements in patient care we saw when the community ward temporarily transferred onto the Epsom Hospital site in 2014.

“This gave patients access to a much wider range of diagnostic services including x-rays, scans and other tests, and we also saw reduced lengths of stay in hospital, meaning that patients were able to return home, with the right care, much more quickly.

“As part of the consultation people raised concerns about accessibility and journey times. We listened to this feedback and have since looked carefully at potential journey times under each of the options.

“In addition to the clinical benefits, this option appears to offer the most accessible solution, reducing journey times for some areas and increasing access to the community hospitals for the population in and around Epsom and Banstead, which has a high population density and a high population profile of those over 65 years.”

Dr Fuller added that the board did not have a timescale for transferring the services due to further work that will be needed to link the decision to ongoing works and estates reviews at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals.

In Elmbridge, residents rejoiced as Molesey Hospital was spared closure.

Figures in the recommendation report showed those from East Elmbridge made up the largest portion of voters with 246 consultees, with Epsom following close behind with 200.

The report found “very strong support” for Molesey Hospital, with people saying it has not “had the investment it should have seen” and that it is being “run-down”.

From October: Molesey Hospital's future put forward to public consultation

Issues raised at various consultation meetings queried the £1.9m cost to repair the hospital and rent payments, asking why the £300,000 raised by the League of Friends of Molesey Hospital could not be used instead.

Ken Brown, chairman of Molesey’s league of friends, speaking before the board’s meeting, hoped the hospital could be saved.

He said: “It’s very pleasing and hopeful for the future. I personally thought we’d lose the hospital but now the recommendation is that we won’t.”

“The building is not in great condition and they’re talking about redeveloping the site which is excellent.

“It needs money spent on it; it’s in real need of repair.”

From September: Molesey Hospital under threat of reduction or closure in proposals

He also praised the residents of Molesey for putting their views to the consultation.

He said: “The people have really rallied around and made their views known. I think that’s impacted the outcome.

“I think we can thank the people of Molesey, a pat on the back for them.”

Former Molesey councillor Steve Bax said: “Molesey Hospital is in the best location to cater for local needs and requiring residents to travel an hour each way on public transport to Cobham would not be acceptable.

“We need investment in Molesey Hospital to upgrade the facilities and put it on a secure footing for the long term.”