SINCE The Comet launched its petition to save emergency services at Lister last week, a staggering 2,500 concerned readers have put their names to our campaign. But more Comet readers must come forward and be counted. Following plans for a new super-hospi

SINCE The Comet launched its petition to save emergency services at Lister last week, a staggering 2,500 concerned readers have put their names to our campaign.

But more Comet readers must come forward and be counted. Following plans for a new super-hospital in Hatfield being scrapped, acute and emergency services will be centralised at either Lister or the QEII.

One will receive a cash boost of around £200m while the other will be left with basic services, including a scaled down A&E, outpatients, blood tests and X-rays.

MP for Stevenage Barbara Follett has teamed up with The Comet's petition to save Lister's emergency services and, helped by her team of campaigners, collected over 1,000 signatures in Stevenage town centre on Saturday.

Mrs Follett said: "I was delighted to see how passionate the people of Stevenage are about their local health services. I hope many more will sign the petition and do all they can to support Lister."

During his visit to Lister on Friday, David Cameron, leader of the Conservatives, said: "There are difficult issues here but people feel cheated because they were offered the brand new Hatfield hospital.

"Herts is a growing county but is facing a shrinking health service.

"It's obviously a great worry for local people.

"Far too many decisions are made by distant bureaucrats. We need GPs in the driving seat and then we will get a health service reflecting public need."

There will be a public consultation period from March until June and a final decision as to which hospital will lose the majority of its emergency services could be made as early as September.

Now is the time to step forward and declare your support for Lister.