ANGRY councillors resolved to confront the NHS over the proposed closure of Redbridge's only A&E centre at an emotional meeting last night (November 19).

Redbridge Council leader Keith Prince said the council should write to the NHS to express its deep concern about the downgrading of King George in Goodmayes, which is the only general hospital in the borough.

Members from all parties expressed their fears about proposals from NHS bosses that Redbridge lose its A&E provision in favour of an expanded centre at Queen's Hospital in neighbouring Romford.

Cllr Prince said: “King George and Queens have been on purple or red alert for weeks, nearly or at full capacity. So if Queens is at full capacity how can they move the A&E?

“A nurse from King George said that, over the last few weeks, Queens has been diverting A&E patients to King George because it can't cope. All this talk of extra, unneeded capacity – it doesn't exist.

“In five or ten years there will be more homes, more people, who will need more services, not less. I'm actually not a 'NIMBY', I'm an 'IMBY' – I do want services to stay in Redbridge.”

Councillor Michael Stark, of Monkhams ward, said: “There was a recent performance table of 400 hospitals published in May. Do you know where King George Hospital came? It came 400th. This is absolutely appalling.

”I had a relative who died there six years ago, in an appalling ward, although there are some good ones. She contracted a hospital infection, and although she would have died within a year or so, a year or her life was lost. Her death was put down as pneumonia so people didn't make such a fuss.

“Around 20,000 to 30,000 people die in the UK a year from hospital infections. They are unknown in countries like Belgium, or France. The chances of a healthcare-related infection is very low.

“King George is bottom of the list. People deserve a better quality of life and care than that. I'm glad we are supporting this as a council. I am fully supporting this, not only just to save the A&E but also to do something together to improve the appalling quality.”

Cllr Loraine Sladden said the plans by Health for North East London which would see the number of A&E wards serving north east London reduced from six to five, would endanger lives. She added: “PCTs left and right are playing God with the precious gift of life. We have been here before, don't they listen? It is selective hearing?

The council resolved to write to write to the chief executives of NHS London, NHS Redbridge, and the Secretary of State for Health to seek information and reassurance on how the proposals are intended to safeguard and improve medical care and emergency medical services in Redbridge.