Kidderminster Hospital could be “fire fighting” if people leave it too late to come together and fight plans that could see it closed, according to political leaders.

Protest group, The Kidderminster Hospital Alliance, is being set up with a view to uniting political parties, interest groups and residents and put forward a petition to save the town’s hospital.

It comes almost a month after clinicians released six options for the future of Worcestershire’s acute hospital services as part of the county’s NHS joint services review.

Two of the options have already been discounted as “not viable” and another two threaten Kidderminster Hospital with further downgrading or closure.

Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital faces the possible closure of its A&E department and the Save the Alex petition has already received more than 23,000 signatures and about 150 people joined a protest rally against proposals.

It has raised concerns Kidderminster has fallen too far behind Redditch in its campaign and although political leaders have warned against a “battle” between the towns, one model would see either Redditch or Kidderminster closed.

In a joint statement , Labour’s Howard Martin, Green Party spokesman Stephen Brown, UKIP’s Michael Wrench and Liberal Democrat Neville Farmer said they would facilitate the setting up of the Alliance and support it to become self-reliant.

Mr Martin said: “We need to move quicker and we need to be broader. We are trying to set up something which represents all political views and community groups. Anybody who has an interest needs to sign up to the Alliance and work together.

“It is not too early. If we do not talk about the options we cannot put together a rational argument for why Kidderminster must not suffer before it is cast in stone.

“Some seem to be waiting for more details but if we leave it too long we will just be fire fighting. We need to work now to minimise the effect on Kidderminster Hospital.”

Mr Martin said he wanted the campaign to include all political parties, groups such as Diabetes UK and Disability Action Wyre Forest and all residents.

Wyre Forest MP, Conservative Mark Garnier, said: “I wholeheartedly support any non-political organisation and I am keen to engage in all groups.

“With all organisations involved this will show good unity in the efforts to preserve hospital services at Kidderminster.”

The next step for the Alliance will be to rally groups as well as put together a petition and public awareness events.

For more information contact Mr Martin on 07976 915428 or Mr Brown on 01299 821125.