A report on the future of King George Hospital’s A&E and labour ward has landed on the desk of the Secretary of State today, as the campaign to keep services open reaches a critical stage.

The Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), which is made up of people with expertise in healthcare, has spent more than three months hearing both sides of the argument as part of a review into the plans.

But Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley’s decision is expected to take at least a month.

Labour Ilford South MP Mike Gapes said: “I don’t expect to hear anything before September/October.

“I think the Secretary of State will wait to see what the CQC [which is holding a full investigation into the health trust] says.”

Conservative Ilford North MP Lee Scott said: “It’s a waiting game.”