Management consultants have been hired to look at the possibility of keeping Surbiton Hospital open.

McKinseys expect to complete a financial feasibility study in to the hospital, which was threatened with closure two years ago, by the end of November.

Kingston Lib Dem MP Edward Davey, who held a meeting on the future of the hospital in July, wants to see a new community hospital on the Ewell Road site.

He said: “We may not like what they come up with but at least it is going to be done professionally, quickly and people will have something to look at and debate.

“For so long we have been waiting for some serious work to be done with promises made by the previous chief executive and nothing happened.”

Kingston Primary Care Trust chief executive David Smith said: “This is a positive step in taking forward the future development of Surbiton Hospital.”

The hospital currently provides a range of outpatient and therapy services but the future of the site is still under question.