The new chairman of Kingston Council’s health overview and scrutiny panel has described a recent experience at Kingston Hospital as “diabolical”.

Surbiton Councillor Neil Houston said out-of-hours care, including at hospitals, needs to be improved.

He said: “Even in hospital you do not get the same level of care as you should do.

“There is a limit to how long you should be ringing a bell before a nurse comes.

“I would like to go back to seeing doctors coming to your house more instead of having to struggle in – and more weekend cover.

“People do not just fall ill Monday to Friday.”

Full-time dad Coun Houston, 53, has set out areas he plans to monitor.

But due to unforeseen ill health, he will not take the helm immediately.

Coun Mary Heathcote, the panel’s vice-chairwoman, is due to oversee the next meeting.

Coun Houston said: “There are a lot of changes happening in the NHS so there is a lot to keep abreast of.

”The way the new clinical commissioning groups are handing out contracts needs to be looked at.

”I believe a lot of doctors have other interests. I am not sure there is not a conflict of interest there somewhere.”

The Better Services, Better Value review, a radical change to emergency and maternity care in south west London, is also on his radar.

He said: “From what I have seen and heard up till now it all seems fair and was done in the proper manner.

“Would I be happy if it was my A&E? No, I wouldn’t – but I am just there to scrutinise.”

He added: “It is trying to keep on top of all the changes.

"I really want to get the best that we can, value-wise, the best possible service we can for the residents of Kingston."