MORE than 15,000 people have signed a petition, sending a clear message to NHS chiefs to leave Kingston Hospital alone.

Local MPs and hospital users delivered the petition to Downing Street this week, as another debate on the future of healthcare in London was due in the House of Commons.

As well as the petition, another 16,600 have joined a group on social networking site Facebook, opposing any closure.

MPs Edward Davey and Susan Kramer launched a campaign after being shown NHS documents that suggest the closure of the hospital's A&E and maternity units could be a way of saving cash across the south west London area.

NHS officials say nothing has been decided yet but have refused to make the document public, saying more work needs to be carried out before a public consultation is launched in October.

Mr Davey said: "This is the largest local petition I've ever handed into 10 Downing Street, but this is clearly just the first batch. This helps us make it crystal clear to Labour ministers and NHS London what local people think of the threat to Kingston Hospital. They must now know they've got a fight on their hands, if Kingston's A&E and maternity end up on their final short list for closure this October."

Mr Davey said the proposed closure of Whittington Hospital's A&E in north London proved the threat was very real. He added: "Anyone who thinks this isn't going to happen or is a long way off should look at Whittington and think again."

Twickenham's Vince Cable MP said: "Sixteen of the 18 scenarios being considered involve a scaling back of popular, well used facilities at Kingston. It is vital that local people make their opposition heard in this way."

The Liberal Democrat trio were joined by campaigner Shas Sheehan and Adam and Francesca Woodhouse, whose daughter Isobel was born at Kingston Hospital two months ago.