Cotswold residents protest outside Westminster (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cotswold residents protest outside Westminster

SCORES of Cotswold residents stood side by side with angry MPs and civic leaders from across the country in defence of community hospitals this week.

Campaigners fighting to save hospitals in Fairford and Tetbury joined some 2,000 protesters in an upbeat demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Tuesday.

Several high-profile political figures, including Tory leader David Cameron and Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, called for a complete overhaul of healthcare provision in the UK.

Others called for the resignation of Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt - accusing the Government of betraying the founding principals of the NHS.

Under the watchful eye of a statue of George V, speakers from as far as Skegness addressed the crowd under a plethora of banners and flashing cameras.

Fairford mayor Chris Roberts said: "I have no polite words for our PCT - what is happening is an absolute disgrace.

"The future of healthcare in the Cotswolds looks really very bleak. In a couple of years time I dare to think what will be the situation in Gloucestershire."

Mr Clifton-Brown added: "The way the NHS is being run is a disgrace. Money isn't going to the front line.

"Tetbury and Fairford Hospitals have been running for well over 100 years and we have to fight to keep then open because that is what local people want."

The protest, organised by CHANT (Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together, was held in the shadows of the House of Commons and Westminster Abbey.

CHANT vice-chairman Boris Johnson MP attempted to lead protesters on a march but was prohibited by police (see picture).

But Mr Johnson, along with CHANT chairman Graham Stuart MP, talked to several of the councillors and residents representing the Cotswolds.

Mr Stuart said: "We support the recent White Paper on community hospitals but it must be turned into reality.

"We are here to make the vision of that White Paper into something that actually happens on the ground. Community hospitals are the future not the past."

However, Tetbury deputy mayor Peter Martin warned communities that private money is not always a saving grace for cottage hospitals.

He slammed Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust for its treatment of Tetbury and accused health bosses of trying to make the hospital feel guilty about trying to keep its inpatient care.

He said: "Tetbury Hospital went through this process ten years ago and we set up a trust. Now the PCT has removed the funding for our beds.

"They have forgotten about basic healthcare. It is the NHS, not National Health Market. There's a founding principal at stake - the public pay for healthcare."

Cotswold district councillor Malcolm Berry added: "The fact people are willing to give up a day in the middle of the week to protest shows feelings still run very deep, and for the PCT to announce another £40million in cuts beggars belief."