Campaigners say the area needs more hospital services, not fewer

A 30,000-name petition was handed over to health secretary Patricia Hewitt.

Health bosses announced in March that Frenchay was due to become a community hospital with a new super-hospital being built on the Southmead site.

North Avon MP Steve Webb and Kingswood MP Roger Berry also joined the Save Frenchay Hospital group at the Department of Health.

The decision to downgrade Frenchay was referred to the government for review earlier this month.

More need

Local councillor, John Godwin, who is also chairman of the campaign group, said: "First, Frenchay is a wonderful acute hospital with a world reputation.

"Secondly, there is to be very substantial growth in housing in the South Gloucestershire area. This means there will be more need for hospital services rather than less and Southmead is more difficult to get to for people living in large parts of South Gloucestershire."

A statement from the Bristol Health Service Plan said: "We understand the affection that local people feel for Frenchay hospital.

"However, whichever site we have chosen (for the super hospital) would concern some people. We made the choice based on a series of criteria agreed by all the local authorities including South Gloucestershire."