WORRIED patients at a threatened rehab unit have been told that the facility will not be closed without a fight.

Chingford MP Iain Duncan Smith called on the community to unite against a proposal to shut down Highams Court, in Friars Close, which treats people recovering from serious injury or illness.

It also has eight permanent residents who need round the clock care.

The unit is the subject of a three-month consultation on a shake-up of services which could see it closed down, and families of patients have reacted angrily.

Sheila Ready, 75, has lived at the unit for the past four years. Her husband Robert Ready, 86, of Fyfield Road, Walthamstow, visits her three times a week.

He said: “They saved my wife’s life. She wasn’t eating and drinking. She was closing down, but they spoon fed her water and got her drinking and eating again.

“I don’t know what will happen to my wife if this place was to close. If we won the lottery we couldn’t get better care than what we receive here.”

Mrs Ready suffered two brain haemorrhages and, after a brief stay in Whipps Cross, has lived at Highams Court ever since.

Relatives of the permanent residents claim they were promised the unit would be their loved-ones’ home for the rest of their lives.

During a visit to the unit on Friday, Mr Duncan Smith told patients and their families: “We will make it clear that we will not let this unit close without a fight.

“Everyone in Chingford fights. We will make sure we do not end up losing this place.”

The MP also met NHS managers at the unit.

Dr Gabby Ivbijaro, chairman of the Waltham Forest GPs’ group, said: “We very much welcomed the opportunity to sit down with Mr Duncan Smith and explain the proposals to improve the quality of community care across the whole of Waltham Forest.

“The visit gave us another opportunity to talk with residents, former residents and their families, and to hear their views, which are an important part of the consultation process.”

The consultation finishes on August 1 and the consultation documents can be viewed at onel.nhs.uk/highams-court.htm, where comments are welcomed.