THE future of Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup was the focus of a meeting between an MP and the local branch of a nursing group.

Old Bexley and Sidcup MP James Brokenshire met with the outer south east London branch of the Royal College of Nursing to discuss changes coming this October.

Queen Mary’s is set to become part of Oxleas Foundation Trust following the dissolution of South London Healthcare.

Staff who work at the site have faced disruption and uncertainty with ongoing financial difficulties and PFI debts causing the collapse of the old trust.

Nurses sought Mr Brokenshire’s views on how care for local patients could be protected without financial problems returning.

The discussion included how staff could make the new set up work, promote research and training to help care for a changing population and recent difficulties in discharging patients to community settings in Bexley.

Mr Brokenshire said: "I was very keen to get a real sense of the thoughts of the nursing community here in Bexley and in south east London.

"The RCN plays an important role in making sure the voice of the front line continues to be present and taken seriously."