Relatives of Tolworth Hospital patients have reacted angrily to news its inpatient mental health wards and beds could be closed.

The hospital, in Red Lion Road, has already emptied several wards and moved patients to other sites in London.

Management were told by Kingston Primary Care Trust before Christmas to end mixed sex accommodation at the Shamrock ward for severely-disturbed mentally-ill patients or face fines and prosecution.

Women from Shamrock ward are now being temporarily treated at Ladbroke Grove in north-west London, although no women from Kingston have been sent there yet.

Men are receiving treatment in Springfield Hospital, Tooting.

Ian Wilson, interim chief executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust (SWLSTG), told the health overview scrutiny meeting on January 19, the hospital was likely to close its beds.

He said: “I think at some point in the future, and for reasons nothing to do with Fuchsias, the Tolworth site will stop being viable as the inpatient facility.”

However, he said the trust had no strategy to close the wards and said public consultation would take place before any permanent decisions were made.

Mr Wilson said: “We need to work with relatives of Fuchsias’ patients to find solutions they find acceptable for their loved ones, so there is no need for anything rushed or unplanned, should the point come when the site stops being suitable.”

Louise Tarleton-Hodgson, whose father is a patient, said: “As relatives of the seven patients in Fuscias ward, we are totally united in our fight against the proposed closure.

“Our relatives receive high-quality care from the staff on the ward, which we feel cannot be replicated in an alternative environment.

“In 2007 a written guarantee was given by Kingston PCT that our relatives would remain at the Tolworth site.

“A Hascas [health and social care advisory service] report, commissioned by Tolworth Hospital, stated any disruption to our relatives may result in their death.”

Edward Davey MP said the news was a shock.

He said: “Many of us have had concerns about the trust for some time and I will be asking for an urgent meeting with the chief executive to make sure he knows about them.”