NHS bosses have still not given any details of the meeting due to take place in June when GP groups will come together to decide if its hospital reorganisation proposals should go out to consultation.

The hugely controversial proposals in the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review, which would see the A&E, maternity and children’s units at Epsom axed, as part of a review of the acute services at Epsom, St Helier, Croydon, Kingston and St George’s hospitals, are to be discussed by delegates from all seven clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

Rumours have spread that the key meeting was to be held on June 2, June 3 or June 12.

But despite months of planning and millions spent on the process, a BSBV spokesman said this week he could not confirm either the date or location of the meeting as they were still checking diaries and venues.

It has also emerged that NHS England will be at the meeting and will vote on the proposals.  

A BSBV spokesman said "unanimous support" of the CCGS and NHS England will be required for the proposals to go to consultation, and that NHS England has a role in the decision-making process because it is "responsible for commissioning specialist services".

MP Chris Grayling said he was not aware that NHS England would be involved in the process.

He said: "It's supposed to be a local decision.  If NHS England is involved then I want to know why."

Surrey Downs CCG provoked anger and disbelief earlier this month when it did a u-turn at the last moment and voted, at a meeting of its governing body at Epsom Downs Racecourse, to send just three of its members to make a decision on the BSBV proposals on its behalf at the forthcoming meeting "following legal advice".

This was in sharp contrast to neighbouring Sutton which voted for its entire governing body to attend.

The BSBV spokesman confirmed that the meeting will not place on June 2 or 3, rumoured dates for the meeting, and said no date has yet been set - although Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, said she believes the meeting will be held on June 12.

The spokesman added: "First, all the CCGs have to agree to meet.  Then we need to check diaries and potential venues and arrange a meeting at a mutually convenient time for all concerned."

He said the meeting will "in fact be seven CCG meetings, taking place together in public, through a single chair" and that "as soon as a date is set, we will publicise it".