MORE than 2,200 residents have joined a campaign demanding better health services on their doorstep.

The campaign, launched by the Eastleigh Southern Parishes Health Action Group, wants to see the Moorgreen Hospital in West End further developed.

Fed up residents who have thrown their weight behind the bid say they are facing long round trips from the West End, Hedge End, Botley, Bursledon, Hamble and Bitterne areas to get to the major hospitals like Southampton General, the Royal South Hants or the Queen Alexandra in Portsmouth.

The group says people could instead be getting these services locally - saving time and money for patients and making parking more convenient and cheaper while easing the burden on other places with stretched resources such as Southampton General Hospital.

Campaigners are calling for services like a diabetes clinic, falls clinic and physiotherapy to be available on site and have handed in the petition, which gathered 2,200 signatures in just a month, to NHS England.

Professor Tony Rest, who is spearheading the campaign, said at present the hospital offers services including an acute medical unit, a unit catering for disabilities and another for Alzheimer's.

But he said residents involved wanted to see an expansion of those facilities to make it match up to other cottage hospitals in the Hampshire area.

Professor Rest is a member of the Eastleigh Southern Parishes Health Action Group, a sub division of the Eastleigh Southern Parishes Older Person's Forum - an independent group of older people from Eastleigh's six southern parishes which looks at older people's concerns.

He said his interest was sparked after being transferred to have chemotherapy at Moorgreen Hospital rather than at Southampton General Hospital, thanks to a once weekly outreach clinic there provided by the General.

This put him in walking distance to get his treatment.

“We're looking for the site to provide a variety of day care services so people don't have to travel all the way to the General,” said Prof Rest, who formerly taught chemistry at Southampton University before retirement.

“I live in West End and it took me an hour to get there for chemotherapy.

“There is a big lack here in this region. It's making things available to people at their point of need.”

A spokesperson from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs services at Moorgreen, said it provided a number of services for local people at the Tom Rudd Unit adjacent.

This includes an in-patient ward and community therapy support for adults with learning disabilities and clinics for people with mental health needs including memory clinics for older people.

It also provides various clinics including physiotherapy and rheumatology in the Stoneham Centre, he said.

In a statement, West Hampshire CCG said: "West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) currently commissions a variety of services at Moorgreen Hospital.

"These include an in-patient ward, community therapy support for adults with learning disabilities and clinics for people with mental health needs including memory clinics for older people. There is also a variety of clinics on site including physiotherapy and rheumatology along with palliative care at Countess Mountbatten House.

"The CCG is also working with GP practices and Hampshire County Council to provide more local integrated care for patients. This approach is aimed at keeping people out of hospital and caring for them in the community.

"It will ensure that patients are given the right care at the right time and in a place that is most suitable for them and we envisage Moorgreen Hospital playing a key role in the provision of this care for local residents. The CCG will continue to work in partnership with local health and social care organisations to see how Moorgreen Hospital can best be utilised for the future."