Plans in a healthcare review that recommended Croydon University Hospital's accident and emergency and maternity services expand have been ruled as not viable.
Talks are underway to discuss the future of the south west London wide Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review after it stalled in November when Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), one of seven involved in the review, pulled out of the process.
The preferred option for health bosses involved in the review was for St Helier and Epsom Hospital to lose their A&E and maternity departments and the equivalent departments at St George's, Kingston and Croydon expand.
But those plans are now off the table, at least in the short term, after it was ruled without the involvement in the review of Surrey Downs CCG, and therefore Epsom Hospital, the business case for the changes was not viable.
In a joint statement the remaining six CCGs in the review said this week: "The six south west London CCGs are actively discussing the next steps for local health services following the withdrawal of Surrey Downs CCG from the BSBV programme.
"As we have made clear in the past, the BSBV business case is now invalid and the options put forward through the programme are no longer on the table for consultation."
All the sub-committees which were set up by the remaining CCGs as part of the review are being dissolved.
The six CCGs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth, say they are still committed to overhauling healthcare in south west London, and the case for change still remained.
The CCGs said they hope to make a further announcement in February.
And Croydon Health Services NHS Trust chief executive John Goulston said: “We agree providing a more consistent standard of care especially in emergency and maternity is in the interests of our patients and their families.
“Change is required in how we provide services, something recognised by NHS leaders across London and working with partners across Croydon and the south west of the capital is essential to achieving this.
“At the same time, we are making continued progress and investment at the hospital so we can provide excellent, professional and compassionate emergency care.”
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