Kingston Hospital has moved to assure residents that there are no plans to reduce the number of emergency and maternity beds as NHS bosses prepare to make cuts across south-west London hospitals.

Last month, South West London Collaborative Commissioning (SWLCC) published a draft sustainability and transformation plan stating that NHS Trusts in the region are “failing to meet minimum standards” with acute services, sparking fears of imminent cuts.

The draft STP has led Kingston MP James Berry to start a campaign backing the hospital, claiming cutting services to the “geographically important” facility “would make no sense”.

Mr Berry said: “It’s a positive campaign. I agree that it’s unlikely to happen at Kingston, but If we’re complacent then they may not realise how much we value our services.

“In Kingston I think it’s important residents let them know. I’m not trying to scaremonger saying it’s going to close. I want people to show how much they care.”

Acute care, which includes A&E, critical care, emergency surgery, maternity, paediatrics and stroke services, is currently provided at St Helier, Epsom, Croydon, Kingston and St George’s in Tooting.

The SWLCC is expected to begin work on solutions to criticisms outlined in the full STP, which was leaked to the Health Service Journal, in the new year.

It stated that “evidence for south-west London suggests that continuing to provide acute services on five sites is unsustainable”.

But when asked by this newspaper whether there were any plans to cut acute beds, Kingston Hospital said there were not.

Mr Berry added: “Our A&E and award winning maternity unit are geographically important, serve a growing population and have recently had government investment.

“Downgrading Kingston’s acute services would make no sense.”

The STP for south-west London is one of 44 being considered across England to meet significant cuts, an investigation by 38 Degrees revealed in August.

The SWLCC has said that should significant service changes be proposed, a public consultation will need to take place.

To sign Mr Berry petition visit jamesberrymp.com/supportkingstonhospital