The last accident and emergency department on the Isle of Wight may be closed down - forcing patients to be treated for emergencies on the mainland.

Some planned operations and baby deliveries may also be moved off the island, according to a report into services at St Mary's Hospital, Newport.

It said children needing treatment could go to hospitals in Southampton, Portsmouth or Basingstoke while other services would be provided by a new diagnosis and treatment centre on the island.

The report, by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority, said the Solent should not be seen as a barrier to emergency hospital treatment.

Emergency situations

The document, called HealthFit, will be discussed for the first time in public on Monday, when it goes before the island's community health council.

Any agreed changes will take place from April 2004.

The report said: "The issue of access in an emergency situation is particularly sharp for the residents of the Isle of Wight.

"However, the emerging view of the HealthFit event was that greater thought needs to be given to emergency access to the mainland."

There have been several occasions in the past few weeks where ferries were unable to run and helicopters could not fly Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust

It is not known whether St Mary's Hospital would be downgraded or would become the site for the new diagnosis and treatment centre with sophisticated, electronically delivered, diagnostic information.

The Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust - which runs St Mary's - has already seen the document in private and says islanders are unlikely to tolerate the loss of the services.

It said: "There have been several occasions in the past few weeks where ferries were unable to run and helicopters could not fly.

"Safe transportation of patients in a critical condition has shown, through experience, to be difficult and the last option of choice."