UPDATE: MPs fear Redbridge hospital services could be closed

Two of the borough’s MPs have said they fear bad news ahead of an announcement on whether the borough’s accident and emergency unit and labour ward will close.

The Department of Health has said it will release a statement on the future of services at King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes at 1pm today.

Secretary of state for health Andrew Lansley has spent the last three months deciding whether to press ahead with proposals to close the A&E and labour ward at the hospital in Barley Lane, Goodmayes.

Ahead of the announcement, Labour Ilford South MP Mike Gapes told the Recorder: “I’m very pessimistic about what’s going to be said.

“I think they’ve timed this announcement so it comes right after the bad report by the CQC (Care Quality Commission).

“King George Hospital should not be a victim of a bad situation at Queen’s Hospital [in Romford].”

“My constituents will be victims of bad management and of the PFI (private finance initiative) issues at Queen’s.”

Conservative Ilford North MP Lee Scott said: “I don’t know what the secretary of state will say but from my point of view the fight to keep services will not come to an end whatever is decided.”

He expressed concern the critical CQC report released today could be used as a reason for overhauling services at the trust.

The report into Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said patients “remain at risk of poor care”, and made 73 recommendations for change.

The Recorder will publish details of the announcement on this website as soon as it is made.