Kingston and Richmond Health Authority announced last Friday that from September the services will be run by the South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust as part of a Government programme to create larger specialist mental health trusts.

The move will remove power from Kingston and District Community NHS Trust managers, who were heavily criticised over the abuse of Alzheimer's patients at Tolworth Hospital.

Last week an independent inquiry by the London NHS Executive recommended that KDCT further improves the management of the hospital.

The trust has promised to implement all the recommendations.

Health authority chairman, Councillor Julie Reay, said: "I should like to emphasise that this change affects only how these health services are managed, services will still be locally delivered in both boroughs."

KDCT chief executive Fred Little said staff were being kept updated through meetings and once it is known if redundancies are likely, efforts will be made to find them other jobs locally.

Debates over the future of the trust's other responsibilities, particularly elderly people's services, are continuing.

KDCT directors warned last week they could become a "battleground", as to whether they are transferred to Kingston Hospital NHS Trust or the Kingston Primary Care Trust.