The axing of services at Surbiton Hospital was brought into the national spotlight when MP Edward Davey handed in the Comet's petition the largest he has ever presented at the House of Commons.

Bringing recognition to the campaign to Parliament, the move coincided with the final day of Kingston Primary Care Trust's public consultation on Monday.

Mr Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, presented the petition to the Speaker and the mass of signatures will then be directed to the Department of Health.

Mr Davey said: "I have the privilege to present to the House of Commons a petition on behalf of more than 7, 000 of my constituents in Surbiton and across the Royal Borough of Kingston, collected through the good offices of the Surrey Comet."

The trust will announce the final decisions about the transfer of in-patients and the future of out-patients at a Board meeting, open to the public, this Friday.

Mr Davey told the House: "The petitioners request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Health to ensure that any redevelopment on the site should be used to improve, not reduce, the provision of health services at Surbiton Hospital."

During a debate last Wednesday he told his peers: "In August, the Kingston Primary Care Trust announced, totally out of the blue, that it wanted to close Surbiton Hospital.

"When people asked when it would reopen, the PCT could not answer. There was no plan and no strategic approach, and people were concerned and suspicious."

He said he hoped the pressure exerted so far could save outpatients and congratulated the Comet and its readers for "their fantastic response to this campaign".