The debate over the future of a women's unit in St George's hospital is not about closure, but whether or not it reopens, according to the chief executive of the hospital trust.

February 10: Patients march to St George's to plead for future of urogynaecology services

February 4: Kingston and Sutton Councils hear the case for St George's Urogynaecology department as decision is delayed​

October 22: St George's Hospital urogynaecology department faced with closure after lead consultant steps down

Giving an update on the urogynaecology department to Wandsworth councillors, which has been in suspension because of safety concerns since June, Miles Scott, the chief executive of St George's, admitted there were improvements to be made in their consultation processes.

He said: "The consultation itself, we have learned a lot from.

"Any shortfall in public voice in this issue has probably been more than made up for in a variety of forms since.

"We will be having a proposal come to our board in March.

"If that is to reopen the service then we will go through normal business planning processes."

A spokesman for the hospital trust clarified that Mr Scott's comment about reopening the unit referred to their consideration of several options including the nurse-led proposal submitted by consultant Michelle Fynes.

The spokesman said Miss Fynes proposal had always been considered since it was submitted to the consultation, alongside a range of other options for rebuilding the service.

Mr Scott said he had set three tests for whichever proposal came to the board. The first to demonstrate there is suitable alternative provision for the women concerned and the second to be clear of knock-on effects to other services.

The final test is that adequate consultation took place and any proposal made is reviewed against this.

The process first opened to the public in October, but was extended after a meeting with Wandsworth Council's adult care and health overview and scrutiny committee in November, when it was criticised for not reaching enough patients or translating the document into multiple languages.

Healthwatch Wandsworth is to write a set of guidelines to help bodies within Wandsworth conduct public consultations in a uniform manner.

Councillor Mark Thomas said that only four people attended a public meeting held to discuss the unit closure.

The services were suspended last summer when the clinical lead stood down, leading to safety concerns when multi-disciplinary meetings could not be held.

Coun Thomas said: "I think it is clear that the trust is under no illusions about the strength of public and patient opinion about the issue.

"I very much hope that the chief executive will be able to demonstrate that he has left no stone unturned."