A former nurse is battling to keep clinics at Deal Hospital and is launching a petition to ensure the health authorities do not take away outpatient services. Fiesty pensioner June Hobbs, 79, of Mill Hill, said she hoped hundreds of people will support her move to collect signatures.
She added: “I want to help to save our clinics and really do feel angry about this. Deal Hospital is precious and needs all the help it can get, so please sign my petition to show support.
“We must not let the health authorities take our clinics away. It is too far to travel to the bigger hospitals in Margate, Canterbury and Ashford.”
Mrs Hobbs worked at Deal Hospital in 1950, left to complete her nursing training and returned to be on the night shift for two years. She is also a member of the Friends of Deal Hospital and for the past 25 years as a Walmer WI member has been fundraising at a stall at the annual Deal Hospital Fete.
She said: “I have also had lots of dealing with the hospital as a patient and so has my husband Gus, who is 82.
“Deal Hospital clinics are valuable to the people of Deal and it would take hours to reach the bigger hospitals by public transport, which can be stressful. “I think the health authorities hope we will give up fighting for the hospital. It is imperative the clinics stay.”
* The petitions will be circulated next week and full details about where to sign will be in the Mercury on Thursday, October 18.