Resources should not be an issue - people's needs should be the priority

Jim Mckenna

Campaigners are warning of further action still to come.

They want the community health council to hold a referendum among the 150,000 people in the hospital's catchment area.

They also want a public consultation period extended beyond May.

Some say patients may die while being transferred to Treliske - more than 40 miles from the furthest-flung communities, on roads sometimes choked with holiday traffic.

Campaign delight

Jim McKenna, chief executive of the district council, said: "The next step is to guage reaction from the hospital authorities and see whether we can persuade them to think again, because until they do the fight continues.

"The message is simple. People support us and people want 24-hour doctor-led accident and emergency at West Cornwall.

We have sent people for treatment at the hospital - more services need to be added, not taken away

Gerry Blyth, surf life-saver

"Resources should not be an issue - people's needs should be the priority."

Mr McKenna said he was "absolutely delighted" so many people joined the protest.

"We hoped for 2,000 - 3,000 and we have more than 15,000.

"This has clearly caught people's imagination.

Strong spirits

"We know the government is looking at increased spending within the national health service - we say put some money into West Cornwall services for a change."

Gerry Blyth, of St Ives surf life-saving team, said: "It is very important that we do not down-grade our emergency services in this area.

"We have sent people for treatment at the hospital - more services need to be added, not taken away."

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said during the march: "You cannot see the end of the line in this demonstration.

Cancer unit

"It shows that spirits are not flagging."

Critics say the accident unit at Treliske Hospital is already under too much pressure, with patients sometimes forced to wait on trolleys.

Hospital chiefs at Truro have stayed out of the Penzance debate, but they say they are investing money to improve their service.

A new oncology department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro was receiving its first patients on Monday, after a public fundraising appeal.