Princess Royal University Hospital has dismissed claims that there are plans to permanently close its eye clinic as “wholly inaccurate.”

The West Kent Eye Centre has been shut since March due to the pandemic, with routine eye appointments being conducted via phone or virtually, and emergency care redirected to Queen Mary’s in Sidcup.

A petition suggesting services will not resume in the future has already gained 3,500 signatures.

A Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) spokesperson said: "The claim made in the online petition is wholly inaccurate.

“The eye clinic is an important service to local people and there is no intention to close it.

“Since changes to services in late March in response to Covid-19, routine eye appointments have been conducted via phone or virtually, where possible.

“Patients requiring emergency eye care have been redirected to our facility at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

“This step was put in place to ensure eye patients did not have to enter a known Covid treatment area.

“With a reduction of Covid patients now at the PRUH plans are being drawn up to resume face-to-face routine appointments.

“We have been discussing the various options available to ensure patients are treated in the safest possible environment.

“These include moving the service to an area of the PRUH on the ground floor, away from inpatient areas, and relocating some clinics to Orpington Hospital. We are still reviewing the options and no decision has yet been taken.”

The petition, which surfaced at the weekend, claimed that the temporary closure would be made permanent, leaving Bromley residents without a local clinic.