Vince Cable

Local MPs have been told by NHS London that proposed cuts and reorganisations involving local hospitals would be subject to a formal consultation, but not before the autumn ("at the earliest").

A key element in the new structure of services will be local 'polycentres' and one, for Twickenham/Teddington/Hampton, will be centred at Teddington Memorial Hospital. There will, as a consequence, be less need for district hospitals in some aspects of care.

But Vincent Cable MP has been told by a leading official of one of the local NHS Trusts that major cuts - up to 25% in real terms - are being planned over 5 years. That is why Kingston Hospital's services are seen as being under threat.

Vincent Cable said: "No-one doubts that there will be serious cuts. And it would be unrealistic to exclude the NHS altogether. There is far too much bureaucracy including - at least - three tiers of decision making in London. This is where 'efficiency savings' have to come from; not by taking a big bite out of services which currently operate efficiently, to full capacity, as they do at Kingston Hospital."