Thousands sign up to protect Cannock Chase Hospital

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for the future of Cannock Chase Hospital to be safeguarded.

It is to be presented to bosses on Mid Staffordshire NHS Healthcare Trust on September 3.

The petition was launched after bosses announced they are to close the kitchens at Cannock and send food over from Stafford. The move prompted fears over the possible downgrading of the hospital, which has already fallen from nine wards to two since it opened in the 1980s.

Campaigners in Cannock immediately took action and launched a petition.

Bosses from the trust are also due to attend a meeting of Cannock Chase's health scrutiny panel after being summoned by council chiefs.

Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson today said people were "queuing up" to sign the petition.

"The petition is still ongoing but at the moment we have about 2,000 signatures so far," he said.

"Councillors were out in Rugeley at the weekend and lots of people wanted to sign it. In about half-an-hour, they got more than 500 signatures.

"People were queuing up to sign it."

He added the petition would be presented to trust bosses at next week's meeting in a bid to show them the level of support for Cannock Chase Hospital.

Councillors fear the move to close the kitchens, where 30 staff are employed, will affect services to patients.

It has also sparked fears more services could shut and move to Stafford – leading in time to Cannock's eventual closure. An emergency notice of motion called for its future to be safeguarded gained unanimous cross-party support at a meeting of the full council earlier this month. Preparing and cooking meals at Stafford before sending them 11 miles to Cannock to reheat will save the trust £220,000 a year.