A FIGHT to ensure the A&E ward at the Whittington Hopsital stays open continues tonight with protesters expected to lobby health bosses.

Chief executive Rob Larkman is due to attend a special Overview and Scrutiny meeting at Haringey Civic Centre to give Haringey councillors a verbal update on the hospital's future.

Documents suggesting its emergency department could be closed — as part of a wider London NHS reorganisation — were leaked in December 2009.

Under plans from the North Central London (NCL) Sector Review, every hospital in Haringey, Enfield, Barnet, Camden, and Islington designated either a "local", "major acute" or "major acute with specialist facilities".

But with no hospital in the borough, many Haringey residents rely on the Whittington's emergency department which treats up to 240 patients each day.

Armed with banners and placards, a coalition of demonstrators hope to let Mr Larkman know that they will continue to oppose any attempt to close the A&E.

Dave Morris, of Defend Haringey Health Services, said: "The proposals for the Whittington are clearly a substantial variation in services and would adversely affect the health interests of over 100,000 Haringey residents — who have not been consulted."

He added that patients groups, community groups, some councillors and MPs had all objected to the proposals.