JUST days before hundreds of protesters are expected to take to the streets tomorrow (Saturday) in a march to help save Haslemere Hospital beds from the threat of closure, Waverley Borough Council (WBC) has put its weight behind the campaign. On Wednesday, the leader of WBC, Gillian Ferguson, spoke out about the council's concerns over the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT) proposals for healthcare provision in the borough. And so unhappy is the council over the proposals, which could change health services at Haslemere, Milford, Farnham and Cranleigh hospitals, that it has decided to take the matter up with the Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health. "What is being suggested is simply not good enough for local healthcare in this borough," said Miss Ferguson. "The council is united in opposition to the PCT's proposals, which fail to take account of the recently issued Department of Health White Paper, "A New Direction for Community Services". These government proposals support the development of community hospital, not the closure." Miss Ferguson called for a decision on the proposals to be deferred. "With plans for the current PCT to cease to exist as an organisation later this year, we feel the right course of action would be for a decision on the healthcare proposals to be deferred and for the situation to be reconsidered by the new PCT. "Accessible and appropriate healthcare is what Waverley residents need." Miss Ferguson said the council was also "greatly concerned that the proposals fail to take account of the potential cost or impact on the county council's and Waverley Borough's roles in social care and community transport." Adding her support, deputy leader Celia Savage said she was "shocked that the PCT's proposals had been so ill thought out and fail to recognise the impact on our local residents. "We need to be asking whether the PCT has consulted and costed the impact of its proposals on local hospitals such as The Royal Surrey, Frimley Park and Farnham Road. The march from Lion Green to Haslemere Hospital, which takes place at 2 pm, will mark the final days of the consultation of the PCT proposals, which includes an option to close all the beds at the hospital. Both the local MP, Jeremy Hunt, and the chairman of the League of Friends, Dr Nicky Lee, will be speaking when the march reaches the hospital at around 3 pm. Dr Lee said this week that she was still asking the PCT for answers to questions over financial aspects of the proposals. "We are concerned at the tardy attitude of the PCT in responding to questions submitted two weeks ago regarding the cost of the PCT offices in Farnham, where more than 90 administrators are employed." South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt urged as many people as possible to take part in the march. "It is vital that everyone who can attend this march does. At this stage in the consultation process, we must show clearly the huge level of support Haslemere has, not just from its local community, but also from areas further away who rely on the expert care it provides. "The PCT is flying in the face of the government, the council's scrutiny committee and, most importantly, its own local community. "I want the PCT to see just how strongly we oppose its options, not through the quiet and hidden medium of responding in writing to its consultation, but in public, in the open, for all to see," said Mr Hunt. No one was available from the PCT for comment as The Herald went to press.