Campaigners handed over a 13,000 strong petition to medical chiefs yesterday calling for A&E, children’s and maternity services to stay open.

Sally Kenny of the Lower Morden Residents’ group, Save St Helier Hospital, joined dozens of others to hand over the petition before the Merton Clinical Commissioning Group board meeting.

The failed healthcare review, Better Services Better Value (BSBV), was axed in February after twice recommending the hospital's A&E, maternity and children's services be closed.

However, a consequence of the review is a £219m redevelopment of St Helier Hospital, promised in 2010, is unlikely to go ahead due to the uncertainty it has faced under BSBV.

A group including Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh, Merton Council leader Councillor Stephen Alambritis and campaigners from the Save St Helier Hospital residents group turned out to the handover on The Broadway in Wimbledon.

The petition, with bundles of paper wrapped in red ribbon, was given to Eleanor Brown, chief executive of the Merton CCG.