A PATIENTS' group is calling on Lewisham Hospital to completely rebuild its A&E department.

Lewisham Primary Care Trust Patient and Public Involvement Forum has called for a total revamp of the emergency ward, saying it is at "breaking point".

And forum chairman Alan Hall says Lewisham may have to merge with other NHS trusts to fund an improvement in services.

Lewisham's A&E department is the second busiest in London, with more than 34,000 patients passing through its doors between July and September last year.

But Mr Hall says the department is too stretched, which is affecting the quality of service for patients.

He says the hospital must have a new A&E ward or run the risk of falling into terminal decline.

Mr Hall said: "The A&E department is one of the busiest in London but it only has eight treatment cubicles. It is at breaking point."

He added: "Instead of make do and mend we need significant investment.

"I believe it is time to invest in a brand new A&E department.

"A&E is the heart of the hospital.

"Keeping it as it is at the moment is not an option."

News Shopper last week revealed the hospital which has a deficit of around £5m is axing jobs as part of a major cost-cutting exercise.

Mr Hall says hospital bosses should seek Government help to pay for any revamp.

If this fails he feels Lewisham may have to pool its resources with other London NHS trusts.

He said: "We need a better A&E department and if this means changing the way Lewisham Hospital is run then so be it.

"Ideally we will get enough cash but we might have to merge with St Thomas', King's or Guy's."

A Lewisham Hospital spokesman said: "We completely share the forum's vision for a new, modern A&E department at our hospital.

"A new department will lead to an enormous improvement in the service we can provide for patients."