IT WAS the news everyone was dreading, but half expecting.

With the publication of A Picture of Health's recommendations on the reorganisation of health services in south east London, it has been confirmed Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, will be stripped of all its acute functions.

All three options being put to public consultation propose to axe blue light A&E, emergency surgical and medical admissions, intensive care, maternity and in-patient paediatrics at the Sidcup hospital and move them to the Bromley borough's Princess Royal University Hospital (PRU) or the Queen Elizabeth (QEH), Woolwich.

Bexley councillor Sharon Massey who has cabinet responsibility for health, described the proposals as "all our worst fears rolled into one".

She added: "I hope the public will now realise this is not scaremongering, it is a reality, and they will react."

Medical experts had already advised keeping all four acute hospitals in Bromley borough, Woolwich, Lewisham and Bexley was not clinically advisable.

But the huge financial pressures on all four hospitals, which are still running at a loss and have historical debts of around £180m, have driven the decisions on where services should be based in the future.

As the only hospital without ongoing fixed costs from a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) rebuilding, Queen Mary's was always seen as the most vulnerable of the four hospitals.

A Picture of Health points out facilities at the major PFI hospitals, the PRU and QEH, need to be used to the maximum because they have running costs which remain fixed whatever use is made of them.

This would enable savings to be made at Queen Mary's, including the possibility of selling off parts of the Sidcup site.

Derek Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, who has held a series of public meetings on the issue, said A Picture of Health had come up with no justification for its proposals for Queen Mary's.

He said: "Queen Mary's is being punished for the financial situation at the PRU and QEH.

"Queen Mary's maternity unit is more highly rated and more cost effective than any other unit in south east London."

Describing the consultation as a "fig leaf," he said: "Where is the option for people who want to keep Queen Mary's?"

Mr Conway said he fears the plans are the first stage towards closing Queen Mary's and selling the site.

John Hemming-Clark, who leads the newly formed Independents to Save Queen Mary's Hospital Party, said: "We agree change is needed, but in improving our hospitals, not closing them down bit by bit."

Sidcup resident Mike Bramley, 38, whose two sons were born at Queen Mary's, has sent a protest email to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, said: "It is clear downgrades are being forced by cuts and financial issues."

Bob Neill, London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley and Bromley MP, asked for assurances from Health Secretary Alan Johnson that Queen Mary's would not be sold to bail out the debts of the other hospital trusts, but did not get them.

Bexley's Tories are launching a campaign against the Queen Mary's proposals, urging everyone to give their views to A Picture of Health during the consultation period.

A petition has been launched at the website petitions.pm.gov.uk/queenmarys/