HEALTH chiefs have defended the closure of a day centre for the terminally ill despite anger and criticism from patients' relatives.

The day unit in the Margaret Centre at Whipps Cross University Hospital closed its doors for a "temporary" period two weeks ago because of low attendance which the trust says has made the service financially unviable. A consultation is to be held on its future.

Relatives of former patients have said the poor attendance is down to a failure to promote the unit by Whipps Cross and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) but the trust has hit back and insists it has been pushing the day centre.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "The Margaret Centre day care team at Whipps Cross University Hospital have worked hard to advertise day care in GP practices and hospitals, spending time visiting practices and raising awareness within the PCT.

"Macmillan nurses also provide training to district nurses where the role of the day centre is highlighted and discussed.

"Referrals can be made to the day centre by GPs and other members of the primary care health team working closely with GPs such as district nurses and all are encouraged to refer."

The trust says a recent review of admission and discharge criteria does not preclude patients who would have qualified in the past and has streamlined access to the service.

Lucy Moore, chief executive of the trust, said: "The decision to close the centre temporarily was not taken lightly. It was being under-utilised, averaging only between one and three patients each day. It was therefore not cost effective to operate.

"The centre is currently undergoing consultation and should the need for palliative care increase within the local community, the centre will be reopened."

But one patient's relative who called the Guardian last week said there were no adverts for the service at her GPs and her district nurse had not been advised to offer referrals.

Another relative, Karen O'Neil, formerly of Leyton-stone, whose husband was due to use the day care before he died last year, said he had not been offered the service until she started asking questions herself.

She said: "The information is not reaching the people who need it. It was me asking the questions and pushing hard for more details which eventually led to the suggestion of the day centre. I had Whipps Cross on my doorstep at the time and they let me down miserably."

Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith said he is deeply concerned about the series of small cuts facing the hospital.

He said: "The day unit at the Margaret Centre is a victim of these cutbacks on the good work the hospital has been doing and the specialties it offers."