This change means Broomfield hospital would become a minor injuries walk-in centre, which makes a mockery of government claims to establish a 24/7 NHS.

We all know a family member or a friend who could need urgent care and has to get to an A&E very quickly. Without a local A&E department people would have to travel up to an hour to get to an A&E, if someone is in a critical condition that time could be the difference.

Health bosses are playing with the lives of the people of mid-Essex.

We have already had a great response to this petition which shows that the people of Chelmsford are overwhelmingly opposed to this change.

Our local hospital needs everybody. And we need a campaign to keep Broomfield A&E