More people have backed closing a maternity unit at the Royal Free Hospital than one at nearby Whittington Hospital.

Last year, NHS North Central London Integrated Care System (NCLICS) said it planned to reduce the number of neonatal units it runs from five to four.

Hospital bosses said at the time that they preferred an option which would see the unit at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead shut, while Whittington was listed as their second preference for closure.

And an independent report analysing responses to a public consultation on the plans suggest that most people agree that this would be the best option.

In total, more than two-thirds of the 3,000 respondents to the survey believed that the Royal Free unit should shut instead of services at the Whittington.

Opponents to this plan include Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq.

But most people said that they would prefer it if the changes were not implemented at all, with fewer than half the NHS staff members who responded to the consultation backing the plans.

This number plummeted even further for service users, with only a quarter agreeing with the plans, and for local residents, a third of whom backed the proposals.

The local NHS care system has said that changes need to be made to its maternity and neonatal services after a fall in the number of babies being born.

Edgware birth centre, which is midwife-led, is currently also earmarked for closure under the plans.

On average fewer than 50 women give birth each year at the centre, so the ICS claims it “does not represent a good use of resources”.

The centre would continue to provide antenatal and postnatal care even if its birth suites were closed down.

Respondents to the consultation suggest that the majority of service users and NHS staff members back these plans. Around half of local residents also agreed.

Dr Jo Sauvage, chief medical officer at North Central London said: “We will now reflect on what we have heard, as well as other evidence, as we work towards making a final decision early next year.

"This is part of an ongoing conversation, and we will continue to talk to staff and residents about the next steps in this programme of work. In the meantime, all services continue to operate as normal.

"It is vital that we deliver the right services, to the highest of standards, in the right places.”

A final decision on the plans is now expected to be made no later than March next year.

North Central London ICS includes the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. 

The proposals will not impact the ICS’ other maternity services at Barnet Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and University College Hospital.