Campaigners fighting plans to close the A&E unit at Redbridge’s only general hospital leant their support to a London-wide campaign.

The Save King George Hospital (SKGH) campaigners were outside the hospital on Saturday as part of a week of protests against A&E closures across the capital.

The maternity unit at King George is due to move to Queen’s Hospital in Romford next month, but plans to move A&E services are on indefinite hold following a series of damning reports by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The protest outside King George was one of a number of events in London organised in conjunction with the Defend London’s NHS group, a London-wide coalition of doctors, patients and health workers opposed to the downgrading and closure of A&E services.

As part of the campaign there were demonstrations in Lewisham, Hammersmith, Ealing and Kingston.

SKGH campaigner and President of the Redbridge branch of the National Union of Teachers Bob Archer said: “We wanted to play our part and show our solidarity with other campaigners.

“This was part of a week of action by people who feel very strongly about what is happening at our hospitals.

“We still have a fight on our hands with King George, but we are really disturbed by the wider picture, too.”

Fellow SKGH member and Labour councillor for Chadwell Heath, Andy Walker, said: “We have cross party support over this issue in Redbridge and it was good to see people of all political persuasions turn up.

“These plans to shut A&E services across London are completely mad and will lead to unnecessary suffering and deaths.

“We cannot just stand by while our NHS heads for the rocks.”