MPs petition to save Kingston Hospital (From Surrey Comet)

MPs petition to save Kingston Hospital

6:00am Sunday 28th March 2010 in

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A petition signed by more than 15,000 people was handed to Downing Street last week demanding the disclosure of “secret” plans to close services at Kingston Hospital.

It is feared closing maternity and accident and emergency services would put extra pressure on St George’s Hospital in Tooting, the main hospital for Wandsworth.

MPs have been told the timeline for formal consultation has been brought forward, with a shortlist for closures or changes to be discussed from the autumn of this year to January 2011 – sooner than expected.

According to the pages of a leaked document, from 18 scenarios decided on before Christmas by clinicians carrying out a review, 16 involved the loss of a major service at Kingston, but NHS London insisted nothing had been decided.

Edward Davey, Kingston and Surbiton MP, was joined by Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park Susan Kramer, deputy leader Vince Cable and Shas Sheehan, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Wimbledon, as he handed over the petition on Wednesday, March 17.

He said: “This helps us make it crystal clear to Labour ministers and NHS London what people think of the threat to Kingston Hospital.

“They must now know they have got a fight on their hands if Kingston’s A&E and maternity end up on their final shortlist for closure this October.”

But Ruth Carnall, chief executive of NHS London, said the Save Kingston Hospital campaign was “spurious” and driven by the political climate before the general election.

She said: “There’s a whole series of completely spurious things put around about the future of Kingston Hospital, for reasons I understand.”

Kingston’s Unison representative said MPs were right to go public with their concerns.