THOUSANDS of people are expected at a rally in support of saving Cirencester Hospital's Accident & Emergency Department on Saturday, December 8, at noon in Market Place, Cirencester.

Organised by The Cirences-ter Hospital League of Friends and led by Lord Apsley, the rally will be supported by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, a local doctor, who will make short speeches in support of the campaign.

"The aim of this rally is to show the huge concern felt by those in and around Cirencester that a critical local service is in danger of being axed," said Lord Apsley.

"The message we wish to convey to the Government and the Health Trust is that we, the people of Cirencester, demand that the present services provided by Cirencester Hospital are retained."

Cirencester Hospital Accident and Emergency, where Prince Charles recently had treatment after a gardening accident, is facing the loss of trainee doctors from Cirences-ter.

This will result in the removal of the 24 hour and weekend Accident and Emergency cover, leaving patients no option but to travel to the already overstretched A&E departments of Cheltenham and Swindon each over half-an-hour away.

"There is a feeling that with the restructuring of the Health Trust into Primary Care Trusts, a smoke screen has been created under which vital services are being removed," said Lord Apsley, who is President of Cirencester Hospital League of Friends.

"At the same time it is difficult to get answers to questions as no-one is admitting to being in charge of the changes."