AN under-threat specialist unit for the elderly at Whipps Cross Hospital looks set to be saved under new proposals.
Bosses at the Leytonstone site were considering closing the Connaught Day Hospital centre and moving its services, which include outpatient support such as physiotherapy for those injured in falls, to other parts of the hospital.
But following a backlash from patients management has now drawn up proposals to keep it open and expand services to make it better used.
This includes a new geriatric clinic and a plan to improve referrals from local GPs.
Details of the proposals have emerged in Waltham Forest Council documents, but it is unclear when a decision will be made on whether to approve the proposals. The Guardian is awaiting clarification on this.
Ena Abrahams, 87, of Morgan Avenue in Walthamstow, helped lead the campaign against the centre's closure.
She said: “It does appear that it will now be saved. If so it's a great victory and I do believe that the campaign had a big effect. I’m very pleased.
"It will be interesting to see what new services they put in it and how it will work."
A spokeswoman for Whipps Cross Hospital said: "As part of our work to consider the future use of the Connaught Day Hospital, we have carried out a review of services which could potentially be offered from the facility.
"These include increasing the number of specialist falls clinics and introducing rapid assessment clinics for elderly patients which local GPs would be able to refer patients into directly, avoiding the need for these patients to be seen in our Emergency Department.
"We are currently working with our GP and commissioning colleagues within NHS Outer North East London to understand how this service could compliment plans being developed to improve older people's services across the area."
She added: "At the same time, we are also implementing an older people’s strategy for the Trust, which sets out how we will provide a range of co-ordinated high quality services for older people that cover a variety of different medical disciplines. The Connaught Day Hospital is a key part of this strategy."
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