Health bosses have been accused of putting cost-cutting before vulnerable patients by pushing for the closure of two hospital wards, as questions are raised over the timing of a public consultation on the plan.

Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (RCCG) is proposing to close Heronwood and Galleon Unit at Wanstead Hospital in Makepeace Road, Wanstead, and moving it's 48 intermediary care beds to King George Hospital  in Goodmayes.

Community group Wanstead and Snaresbrook Residents' Alliance (WSRA) is opposed to the plan and has launched a campaign to rally support.

Member Helen Zammett called on people to participate in the public consultation, which ends on October 1, but has questioned its timing. 

She said: “I have spoken to about 150 people about the consultation and no one knows anything about it.”

“The consultation was launched just as people are preparing to go on holiday and so their minds and attention are not focused on local issues. 

The consultation has also been criticised by Wanstead MP John Cryer, who has called for it to be extended.

Mrs Zammett said she believes the move to a home-based care service has a number of pitfalls.

"What happens if an elderly person needs help at night? The answer is that they will go to A&E which is already struggling to cope."

WSRA has organised a public meeting on the proposal on September 17 and said she believes the move is motivated by money.

She added: “Yet again, the real motive for closing the wards is to save money. The commissioning group has said that if this proposal is implemented, estimated savings of £929,985 are achievable.

Dr Mehul Mathukia, RCCG’s clinical director for integrated care, said: “We are very clear that patients who need a community bed are still able to get one and we think that the quality of care they will receive will be better as result."

A RCCG spokesman added: “As a result of renewed calls for us to look again at a possible extension of the current consultation deadline, beyond its current three month period, GPs behind the proposals are currently considering the request.”

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday