Closing Edgware Hospital's Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at night is not a fait accompli according to the hospital's chief executive.

The proposals to close the UTC between 10pm and 7am has drawn an angry backlash from potential patients and this week Hendon MP Andrew Dismore said he was "sceptical" about the move.

But Averil Dongworth, chief executive of Barnet Primary Care Trust which runs the hospital, said all feedback would be taken into account before the consultation closed on March 1.

"We expected this response. The management team is clear in its own mind that this is the right way forward but that is not to say that the decision has been made," said Mrs Dongworth.

"People are getting quite worried about this being the first step to losing their much fought for hospital. But we are moving onto the next stage and this hospital is going to be built and it is going to be a new, very ultra-modern community hospital."

The PCT claims the closure would save £100,000 £20,000 of which would be ploughed back into the centre's day service. Employing another doctor to work in the evening to clear the day time backlog is under consideration.

Meanwhile it emerged this week that the hospital re-build was over its approved £23million budget. But Mrs Dongworth said she was confident an application to the NHS Regional office for additional funding would be successful.

Work which should start by the end of March.