HEALTH bosses have said their "preferred option" for the future of an under-threat specialist unit for the elderly is to keep it open.

Fears have been raised about the Connaught Day Hospital centre, which is based at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, after it emerged that management were considering closing it down.

The unit provides specialist rehabilitation and outpatient support for pensioners, such as physiotherapy for those injured in falls.

Earlier this week it was revealed that two options for its future were being considered by bosses.

One is to close the centre and spread services throughout different departments at Whipps Cross.

But the alternative is to increase referrals to the unit and promote its services to ensure it is better used.

Campaigners say the unit's strength is that it provides a range of care under one roof and argue that a dispersal of services would be illogical.

In an interview with the Guardian, the hospital's chief operating officer Clive Walsh said the trust's priority was to keep it open.

His comments came following a protest outside Whipps Cross on Thursday by dozens of campaigners urging the trust not to close the centre.

He said: "There used to be an average of 20 patients treated there a day but it's gone down to eight per day, which makes it quite expensive to run in terms of resources.

"The preferred option is to expand the service but we are also looking at providing the same level of care in different departments [at Whipps Cross].

"To expand we would need to make it more productive and we are looking at ways of doing this over the next few weeks - we will be keeping all local people abreast of this."

Mr Walsh also revealed that the trust must make at least £21million worth of cuts in the coming year to balance its budget - but he denied that had anything to do with the review of services at the unit.

He said: "I can understand why people might view this review in that context but the numbers using the Connaught Day Hospital have declined in recent years and it's our job to make the best use of public money and resources."

He added that a decision about its future should be made by the end of May.

Thursday's protests was attended by dozens of campaigners, patients and staff members.

One worker, who has been based at the unit for eight years, said: "This campaign, for us, is not just about keeping our jobs but the level of service that we give to our elderly population.

"At a time when many charities and other groups are having their funding cut, places like this are so important for these elderly people.

"This is a generation that has worked all their lives working hard and helping to fund the NHS and they deserve so much better."

Jim Fagan, of the Keep Our NHS Public Waltham Forest branch, added: "We must fight all cuts to the NHS and together, if we are united, we can win this.

"These services are vital and it's so important they're provided under one roof, and so we hope the right decision will be made."