Outpatient services at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are being slashed because the Primary Care Trust (PCT) is cutting the funds available for them.

The Sutton Guardian was contacted by an anonymous hospital outpatient, who was sent a letter saying a follow-up appointment had been cancelled.

The letter stated the hospital was currently reducing the number of "unnecessary" follow-up outpatient appointments, because the PCT was decreasing the amount of money available for the area.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake said while hospitals were right to cut back on unnecessary outpatient appointments, it may not have been the right tactic.

Mr Brake said: "It looks as though the price will be paid by patients, who will be forced to request a further appointment via their GP, suffering greater inconvenience and delay as a result.

"Changes like these shouldn't be introduced retrospectively.

"And patients who have had their outpatient appointments cancelled unilaterally are entitled to ask, what has changed medically since I was offered my original appointment'?."

Sutton Council health and well-being scrutiny committee chairman Councillor Stuart Gordon-Bullock said he supported the changes.

He said: "Provided there's no reduction in standards of care or clinical risk to patient, I can't see anything wrong with it - it's just a matter of actually looking at each individual case."

Jamie Davies, a spokesman for the two hospitals, said follow-up care could usually be provided in a more suitable place, such as the patient's own GP surgery.

Mr Davies admitted the hospital would benefit from a boost in inpatient appointments thanks to the cut, but he maintained outpatients would not be disadvantaged. He said: "The decision to refer a patient for follow-up treatment to a primary care provider, for instance their GP, is made on clinical grounds and will not lessen the level of care they receive.

"We are working to find the best place for patients to have follow-up appointments and, to date, only a small number of patients have been affected."

Suzi Lelliott, from the Primary Care Trust said: "This is not about saving money - it is about making sure patients receive the right care in the most appropriate setting."

Outpatient appointments that require hospital infrastructure will now be processed on an individual basis.