A CALL for the public to take direct action - including a possible sit-in – in a bid to get Minehead community hospital’s closed beds re-opened has been made by four West Somerset district councillors.

Their “people power” campaign begins tomorrow (Saturday) in Wellington Square when, from 10am to midday, people will be invited to sign a petition to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt urging him to reverse the closure decision and investigate the reasons for it.

“People are very angry about what has happened to their hospital. They have got to stand up and not be pushed around,” said county councillor and former Minehead mayor Terry Venner, who is leading the campaign.

“We showed what public pressure can do when there was a danger of losing the local buses. Over 3,000 people signed a petition then, and we are expecting a really good turn-out on Saturday.”

“The bus petition had a decisive effect and so can this.”

The hospital’s ten in-patient beds were closed last December and patients and staff transferred to Williton Hospital. The closures were attributed to a 50 per cent shortage of staff.