MAINTAINING services at Whipps Cross University Hospital is still the most popular option after a financial appraisal under the Fit for the Future programme, it has been claimed.

"Stakeholder meetings" held as part of a review of healthcare services in the area, which could see facilities at the hospital stripped-back dramatically, came to an end on November 29.

Whipps Cross campaigners say a source at the final meeting has revealed that preserving services on the Leytonstone site remains the highest scoring option after costs were considered.

Option four, which would see services at Whipps preserved and King George Hospital in Goodmayes scaled-down, emerged last week as the narrow leader after non-financial criteria, such as travelling times and quality of care, were considered at previous meetings.

A Fit for the Future spokeswoman said official confirmation of the ratings will be released later this month. Supporters of the hospital, which is implementing a controversial turnaround plan to address a multi-million pound deficit, feared the position of Whipps Cross would be weakened once costs were taken into account.

Those leading the review programme say financial models have yet to be finalised and there are no plans to let stakeholders have a further say before a decision is made on which options will go out for public consultation next year.

It remains a possibility that the findings of the meetings, which were attended by health and social care professionals, patient representatives and members of council health scrutiny committees, could still be ditched on the grounds of affordability.

James Slater, Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust director, told a meeting of the Leytonstone Community Council on Monday that financial models were still being reviewed because the costing process was more complicated than previously envisaged.

"The Government would not allow us to consult on something which is not affordable," he added.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty over the hospital's future, Dr Alan Hakim, hospital consultant and vice chairman of the Save Whipps Cross Campaign, is positive about the future.

He said: "All those who stand by the hospital through this process should feel justified in their convictions. The support from our patients, the public, GPs, the unions local councils, MPs and the local Guardian has been phenomenal.

"We need to be reminded, however, that Fit for the Future is by no means a done and dusted'. We should move forward with cautious optimism. We now need to focus on the public consultation."

Speaking at a trust board meeting on Friday, Whipps Cross chief executive Lucy Moore admitted the hospital has the largest deficit of any health trust in London, but added: "It looks like option four will come out as the preferred option, but more work needs to be done."