PATIENTS are furious that a hospital is considering axing services.

People from Northwich who use Halton Hospital in Runcorn are campaigning to 'halt the closure and run-down' of the hospital.

Proposals at the cash-strapped hospital include concentrating emergency admissions and critical care at the 650-bed Warrington General Hospital.

Halton, with 230 beds, would instead undertake day-case surgery and booked operations. It would also have an improved emergency assessment unit, keep its minor injuries unit and develop more cancer and renal care units.

But Northwich residents who use the hospital are upset that nobody told them about the proposed changes.

Irene and John Vaughan-Griffiths, of Chestnut Grove, Barnton, have been using the hospital for 21 years and say they are 'disgusted' nobody informed them about what was happening.

Mrs Vaughan-Griffiths said: 'By chance I was reading a notice-board whilst waiting for my husband. On there was a small A4 notice talking about reducing the number of clinics and wards.

'I spoke to some of the patients and they said they knew about the falling patient numbers. They all lived within 500 yards of the hospital and said they would be taken to Warrington instead.

'I couldn't believe they hadn't got notices all around the hospital telling people - it was as if the management was trying to keep it quiet.'

Mrs Vaughan-Griffiths took copies of a petition launched at the hospital to Moss Farm Leisure Centre, used by people attending GP referral sessions who also use the hospital, and also gave them to members of Barnton's Royal British Legion club.

She said: 'I brought copies of the petition for local people to sign because everyone I've spoken to didn't know about the plans.

'We may not live in the area but we use the hospital for the quality of service. They really look after the patients and we need that hospital.'

Ann Marr, chief executive of North Cheshire Hospitals Trust, said: 'There is no question of closing Halton Hospital. If these changes go ahead, we will need Halton more than ever to provide the sort of services that cannot be provided elsewhere.'

She said the decision to transfer services to Warrington was sparked by a number of factors, not least a £6m deficit.