The chairman of a troubled hospice has for the first time admitted there is "considerable uncertainty" over its future.

Dr Ron McKeran, chairman of St Raphael's Hospice, says it will continue to be owned by the charity The Daughters of the Cross for the time being but said the long-term future of the North Cheam-based centre is not clear.

The Daughters of the Cross also own neighbouring St Anthony's Hospital but plan to sell it. As the hospital provides £1m of services to the hospice each year, the sale would leave St Raphael's with a significant shortfall.

The service covers the cost of the hospice's 'back room' services including IT support, administrative services, catering and more.

Dr McKeran said: "If the hospital is sold to a commercial concern, the question arises how long those services would continue to be paid for by The Daughters of the Cross.

"Without them, the hospice would find itself in a situation where it would need to raise another £1million a year.

"The hospice has been given no guarantee of any endowment by the charity. This would have to be a significant amount of money in order to produce an income of approximately £1million a year."

The statement comes after the actress June Whitfield called on the hospice to answer questions about its future.

Miss Whitfield, who starred in Absolutely Fabulous, has been a long running supporter of the hospice and St Anthony's after receiving care there.

Dr McKeran added: "I hope that local people will  continue to support the hospice through this difficult time and in particular support our proposal for a joint new combined charity for St Anthony’s and St Raphael’s to ensure that both keep their unique ethos, and continue to operate as at present, but with new trustees."