Kingston Hospital's accident and emergency services looks to be safe after an NHS review panel said St Helier should lose out instead.

Today a panel of 60 representatives made up from south west London hospital trusts, council members and community representatives recommended St Helier lose its frontline services over Croydon University and Kingston hospital.

They scored each hospital as part of the Better Service, Better Value (BSBV) healthcare review, which announced two months ago that one of the hospitals faced the cuts.

It is expected that St Helier Hospital will now host a new planned surgery centre and a “range of other services”.

But jobs will be lost and A+E and maternity units closed.

The recommendation will be ratified by various boards including NHS London before a three month public consultation begins and a final decision is taken by the NHS.

The MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake, has already called for the BSBV team to review the facts before making a decision.

Dr Howard Freeman, joint medical director of BSBV, said: "There is a long way to go before we put firm proposals to the public for them to have their say.

"No decisions will be made without the views of local people being considered in full.”

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St Helier should lose A&E and maternity units, says panel