OLD Bexley and Sidcup MP James Brokenshire has called for changes to Queen Mary’s Hospital to be pressed ahead with.

Under plans approved by health secretary Jeremy Hunt, Queen Mary’s will transfer from the soon-to-be dissolved South London Healthcare Trust to the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

Hospital services will be provided from Sidcup by a number of NHS organisations including King’s College and Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital Trusts and a new radiotherapy centre will be constructed at Queen Mary’s.

Proposals for Lewisham Hospital are currently subject to a legal challenge and implementation of reforms which might affect Lewisham have been delayed pending the outcome of a judicial review.

Mr Brokenshire met SLHT special administrator Caroline Taylor to emphasize planned changes at Queen Mary’s did not have a direct bearing on services at Lewisham and it was important to press on with plans for the Sidcup hospital.

He said: "The current court challenges may have caused changes at some other hospitals to be paused but we need to get on with the Queen Mary’s plan.

"Work to secure the long term future for Queen Mary’s Hospital is advancing but it’s important that focus and momentum are maintained."