The chief executive of NHS Kingston has denied ignoring the views of patients about a review which MPs believe is threatening accident and emergency at Kingston Hospital.

He was responding to criticism at this afternoon’s board meeting which discussed the South-west London Review which MPs believe threaten the A&E and maternity unit at Kingston.

Douglas Reynolds, chairman of Kingston Pensioners’ Forum, said: “With all these proposals for re-organisation here, there and everywhere else, it seems to me the views of residents are completely ignored.

“I know a lot of residents that are concerned that accident and emergency at Kingston should not be moved.

“From your point of view other things come into consideration and the views of people who use the service are ignored.”

But Kingston NHS chief executive, David Smith, who is part of the joint committee of NHS primary care trusts overseeing the review, said the views of patients were vital.

He said: “We have got to make sure whatever we do, we pick up the views of patients and public because you use the services and we are here to commission on residents’ behalf.

“I think where it gets really tricky, to be honest, is when it is part of a broader piece of work with work going on across south-west London. It is very difficult.”

Earlier in the meeting Mr Smith departed from the pre-prepared statement which he had stuck to when quizzed by councillors at last week’s health overview and scrutiny committee.

He said: “We have done extensive briefing with press and our stakeholders. The position is effectively that no change in south-west London is not an option.

“Work still needs to be carried out in terms of what are the changes that going to have to take place to the sector over the coming years.

“Work is still at an early stage. At the moment there’s no detail about specific sites.”

Healthcare for South-west London, which is running the review on behalf of NHS London and the various primary care trusts and hospitals in the area, is releasing its first paper this month putting entitled the Case for Change.

No word has been given on when a public consultation will take place, although the Surrey Comet has seen an internal timeline which indicated a public consultation was due to take place in September this year.