A COUNCIL leader and two MPs have called on the Health Secretary to stop the Government closing the borough’s only A&E department.

Redbridge Council leader Jas Athwal, Ilford North’s Wes Streeting, and Ilford South’s Mike Gapes wrote an open to letter to Jeremy Hunt yesterday (June 20) demanding he reverse the decision to close the emergency department at King George Hospital.

Despite NHS bosses’ claims the Goodmayes A&E will be downgraded to an “urgent care centre” by 2019, Mr Hunt said he could not see the changes happening “in the foreseeable future” when he visited during the election campaign.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Jeremy Hunt made the comments on the A&E closure during a campaign visit to back Lee Scott for the General Election

His Conservative colleagues in Redbridge accused the Labour group of “scaremongering” over the closure, saying services at Queen’s in Romford and Whipps Cross in Leytonstone will not be up to scratch by the 2019 deadline – meaning it will have to stay open.

But the Labour politicians’ letter says: “Jeremy Hunt’s election stunt visit to Redbridge has left us in a position of uncertainty.

“It clearly has no meaning as NHS staff are still working towards the original Tory Government decision to close it.”

They also claim the uncertainty surrounding the closure is counter-productive for planning health services, impeding recruitment, and "putting patients at risk".

Cllr Athwal added: “Our already challenged health services in Redbridge do not need this Tory game-playing.

“Jeremy Hunt must formally reverse the closure decision his predecessor made now.”

The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.