THE maternity unit and the accident and emergency department at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford are the latest health services in the frame for cuts, according to South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt. "The crisis in the NHS is going from simply bad to being a total catastrophe," claimed the MP, who has joined with Guildford MP Anne Milton in calling a public meeting to fight the threat. The new uproar has been caused by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority document "Fit for the Future", which proposes that A&E and acute hospitals should only be used for the most serious cases and that people with less serious injuries and illnesses should be treated in less intensive environments closer to their homes. "Research shows that as many as four out of five people who go to A&E departments could be treated in a more appropriate setting" it states, claiming "better and swifter treatment for all" will be the result of diverting people to the most appropriate place for their need.s Detailing the "downside", it adds: "If we are to provide more care close to people's homes, this would mean that less activity will take place in hospitals. This will reduce the size and number of hospitals but mean that they can concentrate on providing the most specialised and complex care." Jeremy Hunt claimed that the Royal Surrey's location right in the middle of the county may make it particularly vulnerable to cuts, which could be devastating for people in Guildford and Waverley. Anne Milton added: "People in Guildford and Waverley are facing yet another campaign to save their local NHS services.  "Local people recently took part in the consultation about local community hospitals. However, the PCT rode rough shod over local opinion and decided to close Milford Hospital and beds at Cranleigh but we are ready to fight on for our local NHS.  "This early consultation puts the RSCH in the frame and we need everyone, whatever their political persuasion, to come along so we can hear their views. The fight is on!" The meeting is scheduled to take place on July 13 at 7 pm in the School of Management Lecture Theatre, at the University of Surrey. No one from the Royal Surrey County Hospital was unavailable for comment at the time The Herald went to press.