A leaked document has revealed the odds are stacked against Epsom retaining its accident and emergency (A&E) and maternity departments.

The document, seen by the Epsom Guardian, shows a draft of 10 "options" an expert panel from the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review will score as part of the reconfiguration of health services in SW London.

According to the options the only way Epsom can retain its A&E department is if Croydon University Hospital - which is at the heart of London’s largest borough - loses its A&E.

It looks like it will be a straight shoot out between Epsom and St Helier as to which could become the most downgraded site which BSBV are calling a "local hospital" - this could include GP services and practices, treatment for simple fractures, chest infections and burns.

All the options recommend that both St George’s and Kingston should retain their A&E and maternity facilities.

Last year BSBV, which is being carried out for a second time, published the data a scoring panel of 60 people were considering and made public announcements of their recommendations.

However, this time they are not publishing the data, being scored by a panel of eight people, and they will not make an announcement until it has all been considered by the programme board along with a financial appraisal on Wednesday.

The hospitals have asked BSBV not to make a public announcement until they have had a chance to speak to their staff next Thursday morning, February 21.

MP Chris Grayling said: “It has always been a foregone conclusion that the result of the BSBV review will not be anything other than a downgrade of Epsom.

“This confirms what everyone believes. This will not have been a serious discussion about health services in the area and I repeat my belief that the process should be abandoned and started again.”