Dozens of staff at the much-loved St Vincent's Orthopaedic Hospital are likely to lose their jobs because of a Government ban on private health care.
The hospital in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, is a victim of a new policy forcing health authorities, GPs and NHS trusts to refer patients only to NHS hospitals.
Even though St Vincent's is a charity, it is classed as private and the NHS orthopaedic patients it has been treating are being sent elsewhere.
"We will have to close our orthopaedic wards and theatres and make half the staff redundant," said Peter Cloot, chairman of the Friends of St Vincent's.
"The impact on the hospital is going to be appalling and it will mean longer waits for people in the area. While we could do an operation within three months, now people will have to wait for a year or so."
The hospital still offers long-term and respite care for the elderly and for the young disabled.
Pinner resident Bob Holness will be at a fundraising fete at the hospital on September 5.
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