WORRIED patients quizzed health directors at a public meeting about the planned shake-up of hospital services in Bromley.

The second of four consultation meetings across south east London was held at Bromley Central Library yesterday.

The NHS is proposing to separate emergency surgery from planned surgery, removing the A&E and maternity departments at Queen Mary’s Sidcup and turning the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), Farnborough, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, into two specialist emergency treatment centres for the entire region of one million people.

Several people at Tuesday’s meeting, called A picture of health, said the proposed move of planned surgeries from Orpington Hospital to Queen Mary’s would cause a lot of elderly patients problems.

Joy Keates, 84, of Green Street Green near Orpington, said: "A lot of people will find it very difficult."

Fiona Howarth, 72, of Bromley, said: "We don’t want to go to Sidcup. Bromley’s a huge borough. We want to go to the PRUH or Orpington."

Simon Robbins, chief executive of Bromley Primary Care Trust and the head of A picture of health, said: "They key question is do you think travelling further for better outcomes is a worthwhile trade-off?"

Ms Keates said: "Better outcomes? Can you guarantee that?"

Mr Robbins said: "The evidence says yes. Things you currently have to go up into London for could be done locally so there are trade-offs."

He told the meeting that the NHS in south east London had to stop overspending about £400,000 every week.

Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust alone is in debt to the tune of £99 million.

Its board of directors is due to discuss the financial crisis and a damning recent Healthcare Commission inspection, on Thursday.

But not everyone was happy with the options being put to them.

Julie Cook from Bickley, in Bromley, said: "This consultation should not be taking place. It’s too complicated, it should be decided by the professionals.

"Every person has a different view according to their own personal health record."

Ms Cook said it was time for a radical change.

"The NHS can no longer sustain itself," she said. "The Government should introduce a private health insurance system triggered by a reduction in national insurance contributions, as in most countries in the EU."

The third A picture of health consultation meeting takes place today at United Reformed Church, Geddes Place, Bexleyheath, from 2pm to 8pm.

For more information and to take part in the consultation visit www.apictureofhealth.nhs.uk or call freephone 0800 3213579.