Unions have accused health bosses of ignoring a consultation into services across south-west London.

NHS South West London’s Better Services Better Value report details the option of having more senior doctors at fewer accident and emergency and maternity units.

About 150 people were selected by a market research company to give their views on the report during a series of meetings in July.

It noted they had concerns about shutting accident and emergency and maternity units, but also had supported some services being removed from hospitals and provided at urgent care centres or specialist centres.

None of the initial options in maternity services, which included capping the number of births at hospitals and having more senior doctors at fewer maternity units, were backed by the audience members.

Dr David Finch, a Battersea GP and joint medical director for NHS South West London, said the consultation was honest and open with no preconceived solutions.

He said: “I think everybody is aware that whenever discussion of change happens, people are understandably worried they may lose things as well as gain things.

“We need to develop trust and openness with the problems we are trying to solve together.”

However, Geoff Martin of London Health Emergency said: “They make that point and then make it very clear their intention to have fewer accident and emergency and maternity units.

“They are ignoring the outcome of their own minimal consultation and ploughing on with plans to decimate hospitals across south west London.”

Michael Walker, of Unison, said the report was “tokenistic” and “not in the real world”.

He said: “It would be nice to have more community services but we are witnessing the biggest reduction in NHS expenditure ever seen.”

A public meeting to answer questions about the NHS in Kingston will take place at the Kings Centre, Chessington, on Tuesday,October 4, from 3pm to 4.30pm run by NHS Kingston.