Waiting times at St Helier Hospital accident and emergency (A&E) are likely to increase after hospital bosses announced plans to cut staff working in the unit.

Job cuts within the emergency pathway team is the latest budget saving measure unveiled by the cash-strapped Epsom and St Helier University Hospital Trust.

Staff in the team manage A&E admissions and bed allocations and campaigners are concerned the moves will lead to longer waiting times and a poorer service.

At present, five members of the team may lose their jobs.

Geoff Martin, head of campaigns for pressure group London Health Emergency, said: "It defies belief that Epsom and St Helier are axing front line staff in A&E when they are spending tens of thousands of pounds on management consultants and external advisers.

"The Emergency Pathway and Bed Management teams know where every last bed is in the hospital and with the massive pressure on capacity facing the trust their skills are even more essential and yet they are being lined up for the sack."

The trust has plans to terminate up to 500 positions across the trust in order to help save £24million.

MP for Sutton and Cheam Paul Burstow said: "My concern is, is the trust making short term decisions without thinking through the consequences? The Better Healthcare review has concluded we need a new General Hospital, if this news is true, it begs questions about whether we will have the local skills required."

A trust spokesman said: "We are working with all affected staff to ensure they are fully briefed and taking part in the discussions around these possible changes."