THIS paper's Hand Back Our Hospital campaign takes to the streets today after gaining support from all corners of south Bucks.

A Midweek and Bucks Free Press trailer will be in High Wycombe town centre encouraging people to give their support to bringing back a multi-purpose general hospital to the town.

The campaign, launched on September 9, comes in the wake of the relocation of emergency surgery to Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Now patients requiring major trauma surgery such as victims of a serious road accident have to make the trip from High Wycombe to Stoke Mandeville.

Meanwhile, the inpatients women's and children's wards will also move to Aylesbury next year, along with the special care baby unit.

Under the changes, Wycombe Hospital will specialise as a centre for planned surgery, cardiac care and stroke treatment.

Our newsroom has been flooded with hundreds of messages from people pledging their support and putting their name to the campaign.

Maureen Allen, from High Wycombe, said: "Wycombe has a large population and is growing due to the Government. We need more local facilities, not closures emphasis on local. What are we paying taxes for? Less schools and no hospital."

Valerie Beadle, from Marlow, said :"Having done the journey for four years when working in Aylesbury, I think it is much too far to go when ill or injured."

Michael Collard, from Prestwood, said: "Life is full of more dangers these days so I just cannot understand why we see a reduction in facilities.

"High Wycombe is sprawling out and to be expected to get to Aylesbury to save lives is crazy.

"Are we going to see more accidents as ambulances try so much harder to get emergencies to Aylesbury?"

Steve Cohen, Midweek editor, said: "We are requesting a major U-turn in policy and that is not going to be easy to achieve. But if we don't act now, I believe the future generations will have no chance of ever seeing a general hospital in Wycombe again."

The campaign aims to collect as many statements as possible from our readers on why they believe the moves are wrong. The complete dossier will eventually go to the Government.

Our trailer will be outside the Octagon Centre, High Wycombe, today, (Oct 4) as well as on October 11, 15 and 22