MORE than 5,000 people have signed a petition to save St Leonards Hospital from closure.

It was revealed in July that Alderney, St Leonards and Westhaven hospitals, in Poole, Ferndown and Weymouth respectively, have been recommended for closure by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

And last month the CCG’s governing body formally supported the proposals.

In response the Friends of St Leonards Hospital are amassing an army of volunteers to do battle and help save the hospital from closing.

Two online petitions have been launched, and dozens of volunteers have been collecting signatures at supermarkets, town halls and high streets around communities in East Dorset and Ringwood which rely on the hospital.

Altogether the petitions have now reached the 5,000 signature mark and Friends’ chairman Jacqueline Moss has said she is “amazed” by the response of the community.

“It’s quite clear that people are absolutely furious that the CCG is even thinking about closing the hospital,” said Mrs Moss.

“The worrying thing is that when we talk to people a lot of them don’t even know that St Leonards is under threat.

“We need to make sure everyone who uses the hospital is fully aware of the plans and also the very serious consequences should it close.”

Hard copies of the petition to save the hospital in Ringwood Road are up in The Barrington Centre and the Orchid House Surgery in Ferndown.

On Thursday volunteers collected an additional 300 signatures at Morrisons supermarket in Verwood and the team will be at Tesco in Ferndown from Monday, September 5.

Mrs Moss has also written to Ferndown Town Council requesting that it hosts a public meeting with representatives from Dorset CCG. The matter will be discussed at a full council meeting on Tuesday, September 13.

A formal consultation about the CCG’s plans will take place over a three-month period later this year for the public to have their say.

To sign the petition go to stleonardsfriends.co.uk.