Councillors are claiming the threat of closure of a hospital’s A&E department could be lifted this week, but the NHS is warning a decision is yet to be made.

MPs and the leader of Redbridge Council announced a meeting this week could see the threat to King George Hospital’s emergency department taken off the table, but the Clinical Commissioning Groups that oversee health services in North East London have urged caution.

The meeting will be held between councillors, MPs and NHS management to discuss what the future of emergency care in North East London will look like, in response to a parliamentary petition and campaign lead by Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North.

Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal heralded the planned meeting a “real moment to celebrate” and said: “After years of hard work I am overjoyed that the Government is finally listening.

“King George A&E provides vital service here in Redbridge and it is only just and fair that it remains open. Residents deserve the security of knowing their A&E is close by in times of need.”

Cllr Mark Santos, cabinet member for health at Redbridge Council, added: “We are delighted that the closure for our A&E will be lifted and we can focus our energies on the wider but important subject of how we can improve and develop our health services in Redbridge for the benefit of residents.”

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, said: “It’s been a long fight – and one I’ve helped to lead – so I’m delighted and relieved that it looks like the threat of closure of our A&E at King George Hospital will be finally lifted.

“This is a big moment. Thank you to everyone involved. You helped make this happen.”

But in a joint statement, Jane Milligan, accountable officer for the Barking, Havering and Redbridge CCGs, and Chris Bown, interim chief executive of BHRUT, the health trust that runs King George Hospital, said: “Local NHS leaders, MPs and councillors have been holding open, meaningful discussions about the challenges facing our NHS and how best to deliver the care that local people need, with the resources that we have.

“We all agree that the original proposals for King George A&E need to be looked at again as part of a wider review of BHRUT’s clinical strategy. We can’t prejudge the results of that work, but we are very clear that it will set out options as to how emergency care will be provided from King George hospital in the future.”

Campaigners, including Andy Walker who has fought the closure of the department for years, are also not sure if the department will be saved.

Mr Walker believes plans published by BHRUT in October 2018 belie a danger to the general emergency provision at the Barley Lane hospital.

He said: “Cllr Jas Athwal is telling us it’s over and King George’s emergency department is safe but I beg to differ, that’s why it’s vital to keep up the pressure.”

A blog writer, known as Barkingside21, said: “Trying to make some sense on the future of our local health services, and in particular King George Hospital A&E, has been somewhat problematic for many years. Whether it is the imprecise nature of our language or our elected politicians, and to some extent the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital Trust management being deliberately obscure, is a moot point.

“But underneath the headline on the Redbridge Labour site “A&E Saved from Closure” is the revelation that the proposal is being ‘considered’ this week. Hardly a definite outcome.

“Redbridge Labour and the council leader are not quite so sure, even if they think it’s a done deal.”

North East London NHS bosses said discussions about the future of emergency care provision in the area are ongoing and work on this will begin “in earnest” in Spring this year, with planned consultations with residents and other stakeholders to be held.

The local NHS and its partners will then need to agree on any proposals that come out of that consultation.