A PUBLIC pressure group handed over a 424,000-name petition protesting at the coalition Government’s NHS reforms to MP William Hague yesterday.

Campaigners from the Hambleton and Richmondshire area delivered the 38 Degrees petition to the Richmond MP during a constituency surgery in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Campaigner Helen Greaves said: “I am very worried about (Health Secretary) Andrew Lansley’s plans for the NHS.

“I think he is trying to change too much, too quickly, at too great a cost. I feel the NHS will crack under the strain; that patients will suffer as a result.

“The Rt Hon William Hague MP must accept this petition as further evidence of the opposition to the proposed changes to the NHS.”

The petition calls for a halt to the reforms, which campaigners say puts too much financial power in the hands of GPs and increases the influence of private healthcare.

Mr Hague, who is also Foreign Secretary, was unavailable for comment yesterday, but Ms Greaves revealed that he had promised to reply by letter within the next few weeks. She said: “The most vital concern for us locally is where funding will come from for the Herriot Hospice care, where currently half of its money comes from the local primary care trust (PCT).

“The Government wants to abolish the PCTs now, so where will the money come from in the future?

“Secondly, I would like the Government to reconsider introducing the competition element into the NHS, but I don’t think that will happen so as a compromise I would like some form of regulating body to keep a check on it, to ensure quality healthcare for everyone.”

The 424,000 signatures were gathered nationally, 340 signatures coming from Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron announced he was making “real changes” to controversial NHS reforms and issued five guarantees, including a promise that spending would be increased every year.

The Northern Echo launched Health Watch yesterday, a campaign backed by health trade unions including the British Medical Association, to hold the PM to account over his promises.

To get in touch with your experience of the NHS, contact health editor Barry Nelson at barry.nelson@nne.

co.uk, or post your comments on our website northern echo.co.uk/healthwatch