Protesters travelled from across Cornwall to join the march

The protest took place on Sunday through the centre of Hayle, where the hospital is threatened with closure.

Sue Wolstenholme from the trust, which has a forecast deficit of �31m, said protesters are not properly informed.

But march organiser John Bennett said that the trust has been bad at communicating the problems.

They need to understand the reality behind the situation much more clearly Sue Wolstenholme, Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Have your say about health services in Cornwall

The trust says it is looking at several options to reduce the debt.

They include the possible closure of Hayle's St Michael's Hospital, the loss of the emergency department at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance, or cuts in wards and services at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

"The march was a marvellous expression of how much people care about hospital services," said Ms Wolstenholme.

"But my concern is that it was a reaction to one small part of a wider discussion that needs all of the implications considered fully.

"They need to understand the reality behind the situation much more clearly."

Campaigners want an independent review into NHS services

Campaigners are calling for an independent review of hospital services in the county.

Mr Bennett, a Hayle town councillor, said the trust's response was "arrogant".

"It's very arrogant to tell us we don't know the real issues," he said.

He added that Sunday's march had a dual purpose.

"We wanted to send two messages; that we think that the hospital trust is badly managed and a lot more people should be accountable than just Brian Milstead.

"Secondly we wanted to help the trust to go to central government to say we need to have a new approach towards Cornwall."

Organisers said people from all over the county had made the journey to Hayle to join the demonstration.