The closure of hospital ward beds will be "a significant inconvenience for people living in Wanstead and Woodford”, a meeting heard.

A debate took place at the full Redbridge council meeting, at 7.15pm last night at the town hall in Ilford.

A petition of 2,025 signatures was handed in against the closure of the Heronwood and Galleon unit, at Wanstead Hospital in Makepeace Road, and the moving of treatment to King George Hospital in Goodmayes.

As part of the plans, to be decided next month, the CCG Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will reduce the number of rehabilitation beds in Redbridge, Havering, and Barking and Dagenham from 140 to between 40 and 61.

After the debate it was agreed that the council will write to the CCG asking for a detailed response when making a decision, including a respond to criticisms.

Councillors spoke of their worry at the effect the proposals will have for people living in the area.

Lib Dem Cllr Hugh Cleaver said: “There are a number of issues that need to be clarified here, including on transport and the number of beds.

“I don’t believe the moving of services is being done for the benefit of patients and will instead be a significant inconvenience for people living in Wanstead and Woodford.”

Conservative Cllr Nolan said: “It is unfair for patients living in the west of the borough to have to travel to King George in Goodmayes.

“Snaresbrook has the highest population of elderly people in Redbridge and it seems as if they are being neglected.

“We are building more schools because population of children is rising, but health services are always having cuts."

The CCG has maintained that better care will be available through a new community treatment team, which will care for patients at home between the hours of 8am and 10pm, seven days a week.

Deputy leader of Redbridge council, Wes Streeting, said he saw the benefit of these teams but wanted "significant assurances" that vulnerable people would not be at risk.