FRESH doubts have been raised over the future of Redbridge's only A&E department after a health watchdog said GPs could be 'manipulated' into supporting a plan to close it.

London Health Emergency (LHE) claims proposals put forward by the previous government to shut the service at King George Hospital in Ilford could still go-ahead despite promises from the new Tory-Lib Dem coalition that most 'reconfiguration' schemes would be halted.

The planned closure was part of a wider scheme put forward by quango Health for North East London, to reorganise regional health services.

A spokesman for LHE said new health secretary Andrew Lansley's suggestion that closure plans could resume in areas where they enjoy the support of local GPs may lead to doctors being pressured into backing the scheme by health bosses - including in Redbridge.

He said: "In the aftermath of ambiguous statements from new Health Secretary Andrew Lansley that hospital 'reconfiguration' will be stopped 'except where work is already at the implementation stage,' campaign group London Health Emergency is today demanding a categoric assurance that plans to axe A&E units in London and elsewhere will be permanently scrapped.

"Mr Lansley’s statement suggested that while reconfiguration was being stopped, it could resume if 'GP support' could be demonstrated.

"Campaigners will be suspicious that health bosses could manipulate local GPs to ensure that closures proceed."

This fear is shared by former Redbridge mayor Loraine Sladden - who has helped lead a campaign to fight the planned closure of King George's A&E.

She conducted an independent survey of Redbridge GPs last year which, she says, shows that 95 per cent of those who responded are against the closures.

She said: "The overwhelming majority of GPs in Redbridge don't want this.

"There is definitely a danger that they could be put under pressure to support it. It's a real concern.

"Doctors feel they can't speak out against the changes to health services for fear of having their funding cut.

"They are being backed into a corner.

"If more doctors came forward it would be easier for us to fight against this."

Conor Burke of interim Chief Executive of NHS Redbridge said: "NHS Redbridge has developed a strong working relationship with its clinicians in recent years and initial enquiries give little validation to the figure mentioned.

"GPs are now firmly in the driving seat of change in Redbridge and it is their voice that will now shape the future of local health services."