REMEMBER, remember the 5th of November - it's set to be a very important day for Bromsgrove.

Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride is urging people to turn out in numbers to support the battle to save local hospital services.

Residents, worried they will have to travel long distances for vital services if the cash-strapped Alexandra hospital is downgraded, have an opportunity at a public meeting to quiz decision-makers.

The meeting is at the new Artrix in School Drive from 10am to noon. Banner-waving protestors are expected to gather outside well before.

In the hot seat are Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust chief executive John Rostill and chairman Michael O'Riordan.

The meeting has been organised by Kirkbride and the strength of feeling is such that there could be fireworks

Calling for a huge turnout she said. "It is vitally important people come along to have their say and hear for themselves what those responsible for making decisions about the wholly unacceptable cuts being proposed in local services, and which could seriously affect everyone living in the district, have to say."

Health chiefs maintain savings of £20m are needed. This could see services such as A and E, gynaecology, emergency surgery and cancer treatments moving away from the Alex possibly to Worcester.

Meanwhile the Advertiser/Messengers' SOS - Save Our Services_ campaign launched on October 12 and supported by Miss Kirkbride continues to go from strength to strength and shows no sign of slowing down.

So far more than 3,500 of you, opposed to the cuts, have signed our petition that Miss Kirkbride plans to present to the government in due course.