A patient of a unit which is under threat of closure at St George's Hospital has been told she has to pay £50 for her own medical notes as services move from Tooting to Croydon.

Heather Nicholls has been treated at the urogynaecology department in St George's for 19 years, and travels from Reading after being referred by her local gynaecologist.

June: St George's Hospital suspends urogynaecology services

October: Urogynaecology unit faced with closure after clinical lead steps down

After hearing that services were suspended in June and the recommendation is for the department to close, Mrs Nicholls has been left "upset and concerned" about the future of her treatment.

She said: "St George's is by far the easiest hospital to get to by public transport, which I use most of the time unless after an operation.

"I have been under that department for at least 19 years and don't know where this is going to leave me.

"I have been told that only the latest notes would be forwarded to Croydon and I think on this basis I will have to consider the best hospital for me to move forward."

Mrs Nicholls requested a copy of her notes from the hospital and was told it would cost £50, which she called "extortionate" under the circumstances.

She said: "The consultants, nurses and secretaries have been brilliant and I don't know after this length of time and the numerous procedures how I could now have confidence in anyone else who doesn't know my history."

Another patient, who wished to remain anonymous, called the potential closure of the department "an outrage".

She said: "The treatment I have had at St George's with Michelle Fynes was a life saver.

"My condition was not life-threatening, but it made me feel as though I was at the end of my tether.

"This is taking away a lifeline."

The woman explained she had previously been treated at Kingston Hospital, but said she had three failed operations there.

She is also reluctant to go to Croydon.

She said: "I think it is really important that you have some sort of continuity.

"You build relationships and that is really vital for the condition that you are dealing with."

In June, the urogynaecology department services were suspended as the clinical lead stood down and the team was left unable to hold multi-discplinary meetings.

A consultation was launched online in mid-October and was extended for response until today, November 12 after pressure mounted on the trust.

A decision on the future of the department, which is recommended for closure, will be taken on November 23.

The South West London Keep Our NHS Public group has backed action to keep the department open and will call on Wandsworth Council to refer the matter to the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt.

The group is to hand in a petition tonight, and then campaign directly to the trust on November 23.

St George's Trust has been contacted for a comment regarding the charge for patient documents.