The chief executive of St Albans city hospital has categorically stated it "will not close", but MP Anne Main said the promise did not alleviate fears services will be stripped.

West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust chief executive Sam Jones told the trust’s annual general meeting: "You can quote me on this - Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Watford hospitals are not being closed."

Ms Jones, who said the findings of the clinical strategy review should be released in February, was explicitly asked twice if the trust would close any or all of the three hospitals at meeting - which was attended by more than 100 people.

She said: "This [question] is the reason we are not rushing in to saying what’s on the sites - because of the strength of public feeling around their local hospital and health care provisions.

"We have to make sure that whatever we do is strategic for the situation, so we do it right rather than rushing in it.

"Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Watford Hospitals are not closing. The strategic review will answer the questions that are being asked.

"But we don’t provide health care in buildings fit for purpose."

Anne Main MP said she welcomed the comments made at the meeting, but the message was not so clear at a meeting attended the week before.

She said: "Samantha Jones has now stated, quite clearly, that St Albans will not be closed.

"It’s a shame she wasn’t as clear at the recent meeting I attended with the St Albans and Harpenden Patient Group.  

"When I questioned the chief executive about the future of St Albans hospital at that meeting, she was slightly more circumspect and said there were ‘no plans’ to close the hospital.

"Others in attendance that night were not filled with confidence about that response. 

"That being said, I do welcome that she has now stated, categorically, that St Albans hospital will not close."

St Albans City Hospital offers a number of services including planned surgery and a minor injuries unit - which had 14,411 minor unjury unit visits last year.

The hospital also provides a wide range of diagnostic, outpatients and ophthalmology facilities. 

The AGM heard the trust’s financial plan for 2013/14 was to deliver a surplus of £600,000, however the outturn was a £13.4 million deficit. 

The trust predicts that next year will be another "difficult year" with a planned deficit of £14 million.

Anne continued: "We know we won’t get our A&E department back but we are entitled to know what services will remain. 

"We don’t know where the money will be saved but if services need moving then it needs to be made clear."