The future of Surbiton Hospital could be secure after consultants said there was a strong case for developing it into a health centre potentially with new, larger GP facilities, the Surrey Comet has learnt.

Consultants from McKinsey were paid to draw up a financial viability plan into the site which they presented in a private meeting on Tuesday night chaired by Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey.

It concluded that the site, which was facing closure two years ago when the Surrey Comet campaigned to keep the hospital open, could make an “exciting and vibrant community hub”.

Kingston MP Edward Davey was absolutely delighted with the report.

“There’s lots of challenges ahead and a bit to do before the first sod is cut for the new health facility,” he said.

Conservative councillor Paul Johnston, who was also at the meeting, said: “I would be hoping the PCT will make a decision in principle on this pretty soon to put an end to doubts and worries and concerns in terms of it being lost to the community.”

Kingston Primary Care Trust, which commissioned the report, said it was waiting until Monday’s board meeting before issue its response to give all board members a chance to read it.

A spokeswoman said: “The concern was financial viability to develop the site and there’s a whole range of things in it.

“It could house local GPS as some of the surgeries are cramped.

“All the stakeholders were interested in looking at the site as a potential new facility.

“The rest of the land could be used for whatever the borough and others think is a good idea.”

Last year Kingston Patients' Forum was told the hospital's fate was likely to lie as a polyclinic with an outpatient care centre with beds for the elderly and various other clinical facilities.

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