AN NHS trust director has admitted that services left at Charing Cross Hospital after a major shake-up would be so few they would fit into the hospital’s gym.

NHS North West London plans to axe the accident and emergency unit at the hospital, in Fulham Palace Road, and the unit at Hammersmith Hospital, Shepherd’s Bush.

The trust also plans to close Charing Cross’ stroke unit so that site owner, Imperial College NHS Trust, can sell the premises.

Health bosses say a stroke unit would then be opened at St Mary’s Paddington.

Daniel Elkeles, NHS North West London director of strategy, stunned Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s health committee with the scale of the cuts planned at the hospital.

He told them: “You could fit the remainder of Charing Cross health services in its gym.”

However, which services the hospital will retain have not been identified.

Councillor Marcus Ginn, the borough’s community care leader, said: “Since it opened its doors in 1973 Charing Cross Hospital has been far more than a local community hospital.

“It is a centre of excellence and the idea that the much-loved and world renowned services here could fit into a gym is an astonishing admission.

“We now know exactly how these bureaucrats view the future of Charing Cross and we will fight them all the way.”

Campaigns to save both hospitals have been launched, including petitions and action groups.

Former leading NHS executive Timothy Rideout was recruited by the council last week to help it put the trust’s business plan under the microscope.

In his column for the Chronicle this week Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, predicts that NHS bosses will leave Charing Cross Hospital with nothing except the urgent care centre – for minor injuries and sudden ailments – staffed by GPs (see P20).

Mr Slaughter collected 1,500 signatures for a petititon in three hours in King Street, Hammersmith, on Saturday.

His team will be out in King Street again from 11am tomorrow (Saturday), before lobbying an NHS roadshow at Hammersmith town hall at 12.30pm.

Complaints have grown that the 9am to 2.30pm roadshow is on the day the Olympic cycling road race passes through the borough, clashing with road closures.

To sign the petitions protesting at A&E closures, visit www.savecharingcross.com and www.savehammersmith.com.