A PLANNED surgery unit will be moved purely to save a debt-ridden health trust money.

The proposal to move planned surgery from Orpington Treatment Centre was yesterday approved at a Bromley Hospitals' NHS Trust board meeting.

Two wards and three operating theatres, which provide general and oral surgery and orthopaedic treatment, will close with staff relocating to the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough in late autumn.

Under the A Picture of Health proposals to shake up the way healthcare is provided across south-east London, planned surgery would be transferred to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup by 2011.

The trust, which has a historic debt of £99m, believes transferring services to the Princess Royal University will save £1m a year until then - £3m in total.

Interim chief executive Michael Marchment, who will leave his post in January next year, said: "This is a trust that faces significant financial problems.

"The decision has been taken purely for financial reasons and made purely on grounds of efficiency.

"This is not an easy decision to take."

He added: "In terms of productivity and efficiency we can close three theatres."

Protesters at the meeting held up placards expressing their anger at the decision.

Patricia Choppin, vice chairman of the Bromley Health and Social Care Forum, which represents the views of patients in the borough, said: "Everybody says this centre is a terrific example of care and treatment, everyone says it should stay where it is.

"Bromley people would be justified in feeling very angry their opinions have not been consulted on at all."

Mrs Choppin asked Mr Marchment at the meeting: "Do you care what local people think enough to ask them for their opinions, when after all we pay for the services?

"As a trust it is your duty to consult."

Mr Marchment said: "It's the responsibility of the NHS management to use tax payers money as effectively as possible. "