Assurances that no hospital beds will be lost in south London have been made by health bosses despite plans to remove acute services from some sites.

Merton CCG’s (Clinical Commissioning Group) governing body was asked about the impact of potential cuts to services at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals.

It has plans for acute services including A&E, severe injuries, urgent medical conditions, or recovery from surgery to be centralised at one hospital instead of being available at St Helier, Epsom and Sutton Hospital.

In July, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust, which covers Sutton, Surrey Downs and part of Merton, launched public engagement on its future and transformation plans.

The options are for acute services to be based at either, St Helier, Epsom or Sutton Hospital, rather than spread between all three.

In the past the NHS Trust has stressed: “Under all options, 85 per cent of patients who currently use St Helier or Epsom hospitals will continue to do so.”

But at Wednesday’s meeting, held at Chaucer House in Merton, a member of the public urged Merton CCG to write to the government asking for more money so services can continue to be provided at all sites.

She said: “You are talking about taking acute services from Epsom and St Helier Hospitals.

“I suggest that that would have a severe impact on wait times. I’d ask the board to write to NHS England and say we can’t do our job of providing healthcare for people in this area without more money.”

Managing director of Merton and Wandsworth delivery unit James Blythe told her that whatever the outcome no beds would be lost.

“I think first of all our commitment is that there should be a level transfer in terms of the number of beds we provide,” he said.

“We need to make sure that they are in the locations that are most useful for most people.”

Accountable Officer for SW London Alliance of CCGs Sarah Blow repeated his commitment but would not agree to write a letter to the government demanding more money.

She said: “We have committed that we will keep all the hospital sites.

“It is not about cutting, it is about transforming our hospital services – We are committed to having really high quality care for our patients and population.

“Our duty is to make the best use of funding, we are part of a public sector that is under difficult financial constraints.”