Hundreds of people flocked to a protest organised by the Bucks Free Press over the relocation of vital hospital services.

The paper arranged the demonstration after being inundated with complaints from the public about plans to move maternity and children’s services from High Wycombe to Aylesbury.

Staff organised a public address system, crush barriers, marshals and St John Ambulance personnel following the invitation to readers to turn out to a mass protest.

Editor Steve Cohen was pleased with the turnout and believes it gives real hope for the campaign.

He said: “We were really happy with the response and now hope we can go on and win our campaign.”

The event took place outside the venue for a public consultation meeting organised by heath chiefs into the proposals.

The newspaper secured the co-operation of police and health chiefs and the military-style operation proved a success when scores of people started pouring into the car park outside the King’s centre in High Wycombe.

The Free Press has received hundreds of protests against the apparently inevitable relocation of hospital services across to the other side of the county.

Steve is the chair of a newly-formed cross-party group, called Save Hospital Services Committee, and members include Wycombe MP Paul Goodman, plus a lawyer and a retired consultant paediatrician.

Paul has raised fears children will die if the changes are allowed to go ahead.

Well-known TV personalities Fern Britton and Lorraine Kelly have also pledged their support to the campaign.

Fern, whose twin sons were cared for in the hospital’s special care baby unit, called the ward “a little piece of heaven on earth”.

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