Campaigners trying to save Oxfordshire's community hospitals from closures and cutbacks delivered petitions to Prime Minister Tony Blair today.

Protesters marched to 10 Downing Street before handing in thousands of signatures.

Oxfordshire Community Health Trust has proposed closing Burford and either Wallingford or Watlington hospitals as part of its plans to save £1.5m. Beds would be lost at other hospitals.The protesters are demanding that the Government makes more money available to the National Health Service.

A national lobby is due to take place outside the Houses of Parliament next Wednesday. There will be a short march and the groups will be given 40 minutes to lobby MPs. A silent vigil, marking 50 years of the NHS, will take place outside Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on Sunday from 2pm.

Meanwhile, Witney MP Shaun Woodward pressed Health Secretary Frank Dobson in the Commons last night to save Burford Hospital from closure and guarantee the future of Witney and Chipping Norton hospitals.

He said afterwards: "Now we know that the Community Health Council is to refer the health authority plan to the secretary of state, I took the first opportunity to ask Mr Dobson to reassure the people of Oxfordshire. Sadly, he was unable to give that reassurance."

"The Government has promised a National Health Service based on local need. I will not let the Secretary of State and his Ministers off the hook."

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