Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether a deadline has been given for the planned closure of accident and emergency at King George Hospital in Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.

This Government has always been clear that the reconfiguration of health services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service change should be in the best interests of patients and should be led by clinicians, not driven from the top down.

The local NHS has always been clear that changes to the accident and emergency service at King George Hospital will not be made until it is safe to do so. Plans have been put on hold and cannot take place whilst Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust remains in special measures.