A state-of-the-art surgery unit has been prescribed by doctors hoping to transform health care in south-west London.

The planned care centre would include 150 beds and 10 operating theatres and has been recommended by doctors and other health professionals taking part in NHS South the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review by NHS South West London.

The recommendation was made by BSBV yesterday (February 29), along with calls for more care in GPs surgeries and people's homes and the downgrading of one of the area's maternity and A&E departments.

It would mean the loss of facilities at either St Helier, St George’s, Kingston or Croydon University hospitals.

David Finch, a GP and the review's joint medical director, said: "Our aim would be to make it the best in Europe."

Facilities at the proposed surgery centre would be run separately to those used for emergency operations, meaning patients who had waited months for planned surgery would be less likely to see operations cancelled at the last minute.

Dr Finch said full financial modelling for the centre had not been done and could not yet say where it would be located.

More detailed plans are set to be published and consulted on later this year.