Maternity wards could be closed as health bosses admit drastic changes must be made to South West London NHS, with current standards of care falling short.

Medical directors at South West London NHS Dr Howard Freeman and Dr David Finch made the admission the week an investigation was launched into NHS Croydon, part of the cluster of trusts making up South West London, over a potential £25 million budget shortfall.

A 25 per cent funding cut during the next five years, as well as the rising age of patients and a lack of senior doctors working weekends and on maternity wards are listed as major issues which must be addressed.

Dr Freeman said: “We have to be very frank about the problems we face. No change is not an option. The local NHS must change if we are to give patients the services they need in future.”

The trust covers Croydon University Hospital, St Heliers, Kingston Hospital and St George’s, as well as South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust.

The directors admitted to deal with financial challenges, including a cut of about £370 million by 2016, it must look at issues such as centralising maternity services to ensure senior doctors can be present at all times.

Dr Freeman said: “Changing the way we deliver health services will save lives. A recent study showed over 500 deaths could be avoided in London if more senior doctors were available in hospitals at the weekend.

“The case for change lays bare the problems and local doctors are nurses are determined that the patients we see every day should be involved as we try to solve them.”

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology recommends a senior doctor should be present at all times in maternity units with more than 5,000 births.

To meet this recommendation would require more senior doctors in fewer local maternity units or different levels of service, the report concludes.

An official consultation with clinical experts is underway, and a public consultation process is set to begin in May, with changes to be implemented before the end of 2013.