Over 4,000 people have signed a petition in a bid to prevent the Minor Injuries Unit at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely from closing.

Campaigner Emma Watson, who lives in the city, started the petition on July 27 after a leaked report revealed that the MIU in Ely is one of three in Cambridgeshire which may face closure.

The petition gained almost 3,000 signatures in two days and has now collected 4,028.

Ms Watson said: “I personally have had to use the MIUs several times and every time, without fail, I have received prompt and top-quality care.

“I am certain there are many in the Ely area who would agree that removing this facility would make absolutely no sense whatsoever, unless the aim is to totally sabotage NHS emergency provision.

“I believe that if we collectively express this sentiment it may help the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to appreciate how imperative it is that they retain Ely’s Minor Injuries Unit and hopefully those in Wisbech and Doddington too.”

A report from the Cambridge and Peterborough CCG had described the MIUs in Ely, Wisbech and Doddington as “not good value for money” and said that closing them was the only “realistic option.”

The petition will need to get 10,000 signatures before a government response is issued.

There will be an opportunity to sign the petition at the public meeting which is being held next week to discuss the closure.

It will begin at 6.30pm on Tuesday August 16 at The Maltings, Ely.

Meetings are also being held at Doddington Hospital’s Recreation Hall on Tuesday August 23 from 7-9pm and at the Rosmini Centre in Queens Road, Wisbech, on Thursday, August 25 from 6.30-8.30pm.

To view the petition, click here.