LONDON, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Photo Opportunity: Tuesday 18th March 2008 - 12 Noon Outside Downing Street

Unite members will next Tuesday (18th March 2008) be handing in a petition to Downing Street as part of the campaign to keep vital services open at Bridlington Hospital.

Activists will be handing a petition with over 37,000 signatures to Downing Street and meeting MPs, as part of the campaign opposing the closure of the Cardiac Monitoring Unit and two acute medical wards at the hospital. Unite has consistently said the trust's plans will put patient's lives at risk.

Stephen Holiday, Unite activist says: "Unite has been campaigning with local residents to defend the vital services at Bridlington Hospital. The petition we are delivering is a clear demonstration of local strength of feeling around these essential services the hospital provides.

"The 'Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign' and every signatory on this petition are urging a rethink on the closure plans."

Kevin Coyne, Unite National Officer for Health says: "Unite fears that, if these services are allowed to close, the 22 mile distance patients will have to travel to Scarborough hospital for emergency treatment could prove fatal.

"We will be meeting with MPs as part of our campaign again the plans of North East Yorkshire Trust."

Note to Editors:

Photo opportunity: Tuesday 18th March 2008 at 12 noon outside Downing Street. For interviews with Unite activists or officials please contact the Unite Press Office.

For further information please contact Saba Mozakka, Unite Press Office on: +44(0)207-420-8916 or +44(0)7768-693-953