The Health Secretary will be asked to review a controversial decision to close rehabilitation wards, which critics say will affect quality of care.

The Health Scrutiny committee at Redbridge council voted last night to request Jeremy Hunt set up an independent review of the plan to shut Heronwood and Galleon wards at Wanstead Hospital in Makepeace Road.

The Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group wants to centralise rehab services at King George Hospital in Goodmayes.

A campaign against the closure was led by MP for Leyton and Wanstead, John Cryer, Healthwatch Redbridge and the Wanstead and Snaresbrook Residents’ Association.

They criticised the consultation process and a decision to reduce the number of rehabilitation beds across Redbridge, Havering, and Barking and Dagenham from 104 to between 40 and 61.

The CCG said a new community treatment team, which will care for patients at home between the hours of 8am and 10pm, seven days a week, will provide better and more appropriate care.

In a new series on the NHS, the Guardian will feature experiences of patients, their families and staff of treatment provided across east London and west Essex. As A&Es continue to struggle with demand and politicians argue over the future of healthcare, we will publish first-hand accounts, features and news stories on the latest developments. We want to hear from you if you have something to say about your local hospital, GP surgery, or clinic. Click here for contact details of reporters covering your area. Alternatively, you can submit a story here.