CLAIMS that a rehabilitation centre is being downsized before a consultation on its future is concluded have been denied.
Highams Court in Friars Close, Chingford, treats people recovering from serious illness or injury, but could be closed after the NHS commissioned a review of services.
The consultation is not due to end until August 1 but a leaked email from the programme director, dated June 7, raised fears a decision had already been made.
Responding to data related to shortening the amount of time patients stay at the unit, Kay Matthews wrote: "Thank you for sending this information through, it is really helpful and demonstrates how key it is to review this data on a weekly basis as we manage down the use of Highams over June, July and August."
It has not been revealed who sent the initial email.
Staff, patients and their families have raised concerns that NHS bosses have already decided to close the unit.
But an NHS spokesman said the email relates to the unit being used to cope with extra demand for beds during the Olympics.
However Judy Streight, 62, of Chingford Avenue in Chingford, fears the unit, which currently looks after her 91-year-old mother, Ethel Cousins, who has dementia, will close.
She described the email as "incredibly damning", adding: "It makes a complete mockery of the whole process of consulting us, it's appalling.
"It makes me so angry because it means that have not and will not listen to us."
A spokesman for North East London & the City NHS trust (NELC) said: "We wanted to do this ahead of the Olympic Games because we expect Highams Court beds could be needed to help manage increased demand as part of hospital contingency plans during the Games themselves.
"No decision has been taken about the future of Highams Court. Indeed we have two drop-in sessions for the public taking place at North Chingford Library on 19 July (12-2pm) and 25 July (10-12pm)."
Families of patients at Highams Court said they were already being encouraged to find new care homes for their loved ones, which NELC denied.
There were eight people living at the centre with long-term conditions but two have already been moved to another care home, while two of the four care wards are now vacant.
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