FEARS West Middlesex Hospital would lose its accident and emergency department have been eased following a new report.


There were concerns the hospital, in Twickenham Road, Isleworth, would be downgraded as part of planned cuts to hospital services across north west London.

But under proposals published yesterday by NHS North West London, it would continue to offer the same services as at present.

Ealing and Charing Cross would instead be downgraded from major to local hospitals, both losing their A&E departments, under the trust's preferred proposal.

However, one of two alternative proposals would see West Mid downgraded, losing its A&E and having a quarter of the existing site sold.

The proposals are outlined in the report 'Shaping a Healthier Future', published by NHS NW London.

The trust, which is responsible for the healthcare of 1.9 million people across eight boroughs, is looking to plug an estimated £1 billion funding gap by 2014/15.

Under its plans, four of the nine hospitals in the region would be downgraded, with five 'major' hospitals remaining.

NHS NW London chief executive Anne Rainsberry said the proposals were not just about saving money, but about providing more care closer to home.

"This isn't about cutting corners or getting by with the bare minimum. We want to change the way we deliver care so that outcomes are improved, both in terms of clinical outcomes and patient and staff experiences," she added.

"We've used robust clinical evidence to set targets, and clinicians have set out the standards by which we can measure our performance against them."

If the preferred option is chosen, West Middlesex is likely to face an increased demand for services.

The A&E department would have to cope with an estimated 31,000 extra patients a year, largely from Ealing Hospital, according to the report.

That is an increase of 29 per cent on the current figure of 106,000.

An urgent care centre opened at the hospital earlier this year, which is expected to ease pressure on the department, and there are likely to be further changes to accommodate demand should the proposals get the green light.

However, West Mid's A&E department has struggled to cope with demand in the past, particularly during the winter.

A public meeting about the new proposals is due to be held at Westminster Methodist Church on Monday (June 25) at 2.30pm.

If approved by the trust's board, a 14-week public consultation will begin on July 2.

A final decision is due in January, with the changes set to be fully implemented by March 2016 should they get the go-ahead.