ORGANISERS of a group campaigning to stop services at Kidderminster Hospital from being downgraded or closed are encouraging residents to get involved.

The Kidderminster Hospital Alliance has launched a petition, facebook group and twitter account and will be holding a public awareness event in the town on Saturday.

Clinicians have outlined six potential models for the future of hospital care in Worcestershire as part of the county NHS’s joint services review. Two options threaten acute services at Kidderminster Hospital.

Save the Alex, a campaign group for Redditch’s Alexandra Hosp-ital, which could see its A&E department close, had already received 23,000 signatures when Kidderminster’s group was formed.

Stephen Brown, Wyre Forest Green Party spokesman, helped set up the alliance and elected and unelected political parties are signed up.

“Everybody is helping out,” he said. “The more the better and we want it to remain non-political.

“We are meeting NHS Worcestershire board members, contacting community organisations and many hospital users have contacted me about it.”

Members of the alliance , including Wyre Forest MP, Conservative Mark Garnier , will be outside Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday from 10am until 2pm.

Mr Brown said: “Our starting point is making sure the hospital stays and we discuss bringing services there – it is under-utilised.

“We have spoken to [Save the Alex campaign leaders] and at some stage in the future we are looking at widening the campaign. We are keen on working together and protecting each other.”

The petition states: “We the undersigned, demand that Worcestershire NHS retain Kidderminster Hospital, protect its services and even seek to enhance those services for the good of patients in the whole county and neighbouring areas.”

To join the petition, go to ipetitions.com/petition/kidderminster -hospital-alliance-protect-our/.

For more details, visit facebook.com/kidderminsterhospitalalliance, go to twitter.com/SaveKHospital, email kidderminsterhospitalalliance@hotmail.co.uk or call Mr Brown on 07805 530774.