Victims of gun crime or car crashes in Sutton would face dangerously long journeys to new trauma centres, health campaigners have said.
Four “super” accident and emergency units are being opened in the capital next summer, but the pressure group London Health Emergency is concerned long ambulance rides could put patients at risk.
The trauma centres will be based at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, King’s, Camberwell, the Royal London, Whitechapel, and St Mary’s, Paddington.
Geoff Martin, a Sutton resident and head of campaigns at London Heath Emergency, said: “Millions of Londoners on the outskirts will now face dangerously long journeys to to access emergency care.
“We think the 45-minute maximum time is optimistic and, with only one air ambulance – this whole scheme is a massive gamble.”
A joint committee of primary care trusts has approved the plans, saying the concentration of expertise could save up to 500 lives a year.
Under the plans the stroke centre at St Helier Hospital will also be linked to eight new specialist hyper-acute centres around London.
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