Patients to be shipped out as hospital faces closure

All 12 of the hospital's long-stay patients will be moved out of Carshalton to other NHS locations or private care homes, while others will be looked after at home by carers.

The fate of the building and the land on which it stands remains unclear, though the trust said other health services could possibly be developed there.

The decision comes after a review of services which found the "model of care" provided at the hospital did not meet modern standards and buildings had deteriorated.

In particular, health bosses said the hospital's Nightingale wards were inappropriate for the 21st century and offered patients little privacy.

PCT chief executive Ian Ayres said: "In making a decision about the future of services provided here, we have sought the views of all who would potentially be affected by any changes including patients, relatives and staff. We are continuing to involve them in the process."

Mr Ayres added the trust was deciding whether the site would be a suitable location for other services.

He said: "A decision about the future of the site will be taken by the PCT in the next two months and we will keep people updated on the outcome."

Relatives initially accused the PCT of trying to "railroad" patients out of the hospital, but as the consultation on the hospital's future proceeded, emotions appear to have mellowed.

Carshalton resident Eric Westwood said he was satisfied with the trust's consultation despite his initial feelings of anger when it was first announced. His wife had been cared for at the hospital for two years after she suffered a stroke in 2003.

Mr West said, despite an offer of a nursing home place from the PCT, he had decided to bring his wife home and look after her with the help of carers.

He said: "I don't have any complaints about the way it was done and they handled it very well."

swrelton@london.newsquest.co.uk