The campaign to re-open Mitcham's Wilson Hospital is being stepped up by Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh.

Ms McDonagh and fellow campaigners set up a stall on Mitcham Fair Green last week to encourage shoppers to sign a petition which she plans to present to the House of Commons.

She is urging health secretary Alan Milburn to stand up for the wishes of Mitcham people and re-open the Wilson, presently used as offices by Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority (MSW).

Campaigners collected more than 400 signatures in the first hour.

Some residents were so fired up by the campaign that they took away petition sheets to get their friends and neighbours signed up after reading about it in the Sutton Guardian.

They were also encouraging fellow Mitcham residents to write to MSW, to urge it to find new office accommodation so that the Wilson can once again become what benefactor Sir Isaac Wilson created it to be in 1928 a hospital for the people of Mitcham and Morden.

Pensioner George Smith, 85, lent his support: "It was a great shame that the Wilson was ever allowed to close in the first place.

"People in Mitcham were really let down when it was closed."

Electrician Carl Linkson, 27, said: "It's about time Mitcham had a hospital of its own again.

"Meeting and talking to people you realise just how well-loved the Wilson was when it was our local'."

Ms McDonagh said: "Mitcham residents are really enthusias tic about the idea of having the Wilson back on their doorsteps as a hospital.

"I hope that by taking this petition to Parliament on their behalf, I can play a small part in making that happen.

"By pressing smaller hospitals back into service, I believe the pressure on the larger ones will be reduced."

The authority has stated the Wilson is one of the options being considered as part of a reorganisation which will create two new primary care trusts.

December 27, 2001 23:30