St Albans City Hospital must retain its excellent services, according to the city’s MP Anne Main.

Mrs Main will meet with Samantha Jones, chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, on Friday to discuss the future of the city hospital and its services.

Last month The St Albans & Harpenden Review reported that health chiefs would not guarantee any services at the city hospital. The trust said the hospitals future would be determined by its clinical strategy, which is due to be published by mid 2015.

In a statement released by her office Mrs Main said: "St Albans has been trampled on enough and there has already been a salami-slicing of services.

"We must keep our excellent services at St Albans City Hospital and, indeed, given the very positive results of the ‘Friends and Family Test’ in St Albans I would even like to see some services returned or enhanced as a result of the review.

"My constituents have not felt that they have benefited from previous reconfigurations, and I believe the current model leaves a lot to be desired. "

Earlier this year, the trust guaranteed that A&E and maternity services would remain at Watford General Hospital following the reorganisation.

Mrs Main continued: "I receive numerous complaints from constituents who find the travel to Watford or indeed some other hospitals very difficult and arduous. The sheer volume of patients being obliged to use Watford General Hospital can cause knock-on difficulties with regards to scheduled operations.

"I will continue to stand up for St Albans City Hospital and related services. I believe we do need to see another hospital built in Hertfordshire and that should be the ultimate goal. The final decisions in this strategy will be made by clinicians and we must not second-guess the review but I feel it is my duty to raise the concerns of my constituents and make these views clear during the process.

"St Albans must keep its services and I will continue to make this case in the strongest possible way. "

At the time Ms Jones said she was "committed to providing the people of St Albans, Watford, Hemel Hempstead and surrounding areas with the best possible care in a safe and welcoming environment."