Winchester'S Royal Hampshire County Hospital could be reduced to a "hollow satellite" if surgical operations are merged with Southampton, it is feared.

Concerns from a senior source at the city-based hospital have prompted renewed worries about the level of services which may be offered at the site in the future.

A clinician, who refused to be named, claims the merger plans could lead to residents missing out to patients at its larger neighbour.

George Hollingbery, Winchester's prospective Tory parliamentary candidate, who said he has spoken to a staff member at the RHCH, said: "For senior hospital staff to be talking like this is of serious concern to everybody in the city.

"The management of the hospital must now do all it can to safeguard the hospital's future as a top class hospital."

Under the latest plans, which aims to create a single surgical service across Southampton, Winchester, Lymington and Andover, discussions focused on specialist surgeries being concentrated at one or other of the hospitals, in a bid to save up to £5m.

Emergency admissions would continue at both hospitals, but all major accident surgery would be performed at Southampton.

Another option is whether some out-of-hours operations in Winchester could be transferred to Southampton.

The clinician claims the RHCH is in "turmoil" and also fears that Southampton is waiting to take routine surgery away from the city -- which makes up a large part of the hospital's budget.

"We are staring in the face the possibility of Winchester becoming a hollow satellite of Southampton, including the A&E," the clinician said.

"People must start to realise that their hospital is under real threat, and that unless they start shouting they might well lose it."

Winchester MP Mark Oaten is also concerned about the plans, and warned senior management at the RHCH to tread with caution.

"We are discussing individual patient's lives, not numbers, or a balance sheet," he said.

Mr Oaten added that he supported creating areas of surgical excellence at the two hospitals, but not if it resulted in a total merger of surgery or a merged budget.

But a RHCH spokesman said the majority of routine surgery -- around 80% -- would be maintained in Winchester, and said there was "no need to assume the financial position of the trust would be destabilised".

Hospital bosses insist there is no sinister cost-cutting exercise or take-over bid at the heart of the review, and that their aim is simply to improve patient services.

Rob Morris, clinical project director of the surgical review, said: "We believe the A&E department should be maintained in Winchester. We do not feel that is under threat."

Mr Morris added there could be a redistribution of complex surgery between Southampton and Winchester and vice-versa, but stressed this would involve "small numbers".

"It is hoped that through working more efficiently across the two sites we can make some revenue savings," he said.

"We want to develop both as centres of excellence."

Last week Paul Gartell, consultant surgeon at the RHCH, told a hospital trust board meeting he was concerned the review was "not about quality of care".

Mr Gartell said: "It's about saving money because the health authorities locally are all heavily in debt. There are concerns that decisions may be made for the wrong reasons."

The single surgical delivery system (SSDS) is part of a larger project called HealthFit, which will focus on other services.

For more information call the public and patient involvement office on 01962 825965, or e-mail yoursay@weht.nhs.uk