I am in my mid 60s and a carer for two 90 year-olds.

I am dismayed by the proposals for intermediate care services for elderly rehabilitation put forward by the Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

One of the purpose-built wards is already closed on the Wanstead Hospital site and the other is proposed to close at the end of this stealthy high-summer consultation.

The Office for National statistics predicts that over the next 20 years the number of over 85s in the population will be two and a half times greater than today, so a reduction in elderly specialist services would be catastrophic at this time.

I am delighted that new domiciliary teams have been developed, but with increasing levels of frailty and dependency amongst the elderly population, rehabilitation requires a greater reach than is available today in in-patient facilities.

Finally, living in Wanstead and Woodford, we are in a very ambiguous situation regarding the commissioning of our healthcare.

Redbridge CCG faces eastwards. Our acute hospital care is provided by Whipps Cross hospital, part of the St Bartholomew’s group facing towards inner London.

I am not convinced that there has been adequate consultation with Whipps Cross, where 40 per cent of in-patient beds are filled by Wanstead and Woodford residents.

I strongly request the CCG to extend the consultation period and to hold a further ‘have your say’ meeting in this sector of the borough.

Sally Edwards, Cranbourne Avenue, Wanstead.