IT'S time to stand up and be counted – and make your views known by getting on your feet for Felixstowe's hospitals.Hundreds of people are expected to march through the resort's town centre tomorrow in protest at moves to close the General or Bartlet, or both, to pay back debts owed by the health authorities.

IT'S time to stand up and be counted – and make your views known by getting on your feet for Felixstowe's hospitals.

Hundreds of people are expected to march through the resort's town centre tomorrow in protest at moves to close the General or Bartlet, or both, to pay back debts owed by the health authorities.

Campaigners are calling for as many people as possible to join the walk to show the strength of feeling of the community and say Hands Off Our Hospitals.

Marchers are being encouraged to make placards and banners and wear campaign T-shirts to demonstrate their support for the units.

Save Our Hospitals action group chairman Roy Gray said: "We want as many people as possible to join us – this is our chance to show the authorities how much people care and that we won't stand for these cuts.

"At first we thought it was the General which would be lost, and now we think it is more likely to be the Bartlet.

"But Felixstowe needs both hospitals for different reasons and will need them even more in the years ahead.

"We must keep both – they are wonderful facilities run by fabulous staff and highly-valued by the community."

Gillian Ib , great-grand-daughter of Charles Croydon, who built and gave the General to the town, said: "It's time to get off our backsides and do something positive and joining the march is something everyone can do.

"We need to show solidarity and show the Primary Care Trust exactly what we think of their plans to cut services."

Tomorrow's march will set off from Great Eastern Square at 10.30am. People should begin gathering around 10.15am.

It will walk down Hamilton Road and Cobbold Road to the General, Constable Road, where people will surround the building and link arms to form a ring of protection.

They will then march to the Bartlet, Bath Hill, to do the same.

People making placards can collect free large posters from the Evening Star office at 172 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe.

T-shirts – sponsored by The Evening Star – with the message "Hands Off Our Felixstowe Hospitals" on the front with no to closures on the back are also available at a cost of £5.50.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkeast.nhs.uk