A public meeting has been called this week in a campaign to Save Wanstead Hospital.

The Wanstead and Snaresbrook Residents’ Alliance has organised the meeting on Wednesday, which is being held at 7.30pm upstairs in The George pub in Wanstead High Street.

Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has proposed closing the hospital’s last two operational wards – Heronwood and Galleon – which provide care for patients going through rehabilitation.

Currently there are 104 “intermediate care” beds provided across Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Havering including 48 at Wanstead, 26 at Gray’s Court in Dagenham and 30 at King George Hospital in Goodmayes.

Consultation over the plans ends on October 1.

The trust hopes to replace those with 40 beds at King George, increasing to 61 if needed, and two new teams to work with patients in the community instead of in hospital.

But the alliance fears the numbers will not be able to deal with the “growing increase in demand” of the ageing population.

It is also concerned over the implications of a future flu epidemic or a harsh winter.

The meeting will be attended by representatives from the Redbridge CCG, MP John Cryer, Redbridge Council cabinet member for health Cllr Wes Streeting and ward councillors.

To find out more contact Helen Zammett on zammetthe@yahoo.co.uk or 0208 989 8080.