They say ambulances responding to emergency calls are being delayed along the A16 which is also a problem for non-emergency traffic.

The situation has been made worse by road works on Fydell Street and on Sibsey Road near the hospital.

A public meeting has been organised for Monday evening to organise the campaign for a bypass.

Patient care

Ambulance service spokesman Andy Butler said: "Currently we are reaching the government targets for the eight-minute response time, but if this traffic congestion increases then the response times won't be as good.

"Obviously this is going to affect our treatment of patients.

"It is extremely frustrating... the local driving population is trying to help as well as they can."

There are particular concerns for the stretch of the John Adams Way on the A16 where there is nowhere for cars to pull over.