Residents want to know what effect rejuvenating Surbiton Hospital would have on Kingston Hospital, a public consultation has been told.

Ninety per cent of the 128 residents who took part in the consultation wanted Surbiton Hospital to be turned into a polyclinic.

But only 11 per cent wanted a school there, with three out of 10 preferring to leave the spare land as a green space.

A spokesman for NHS Kingston said: “A planning application for a state of the art new building on the Surbiton Hospital site is expected later this year and we’ll be involving residents in consultation before anything is taken forward.

“Ultimately these developments are about getting the best possible and best value health services for local people.”

Key questions from residents included concerns that bringing some services, such as blood tests, into the new clinic would undermine nearby Kingston Hospital.

The hospital said it supported the plans, as long as it was given the contract to run the services.

It has said that if it was unsuccessful, the hospital may not be able to manage the reduction in funds.

Patients were also worried that GPs were not on board with the plans.

NHS Kingston has sent its proposals to NHS London for approval. A planning application should be presented at some point in February.

Building could start in early 2011, after another public consultation later this year, and the new Surbiton Hospital open by mid-2012.

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