PLANS to axe the A&E at King George Hospital have been referred by a government minister for review.
The independent reconfiguration panel has one month to report back to Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley.
Its members will advise if a full review into plans to close the A&E and labour at the hospital in Barley Lane, Goodmayes, is needed.
If it is, interested parties including representatives from Redbridge Council – which requested Mr Lansley step in during an emergency meeting in January – will be able to present their case to the panel in full.
In a letter sent to Redbridge Council’s chief executive Roger Hampson yesterday, Mr Lansley said he was informing panel chairman Dr Peter Barrett and chief executive of NHS London Ruth Carnall about his decision to ask for an initial review.
The results of the review into Health for North East London’s health shake-up plans will land on Mr Lansley’s desk no later than March 11.
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