Television presenter, Gabby Logan, has shown her support for a campaign backed by thousands of people calling on the Government to restore hospital services to High Wycombe.

A petition, signed by 6,000 people and entitled Fair Funding for Buckinghamshire, was sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, last week.

The petition read: “We ask you to ensure that Buckinghamshire not only receives the national average in funds, but we also receive enough public funding so that key services are restored to Wycombe Hospital.

“For a substantial amount of time now, Buckinghamshire has received less funding per capita than most of the country for our hospitals.

“This ‘cash-starving’ or ‘squeeze’ contributed to downgrades at Amersham and Wycombe hospitals and our trust has recently been in ‘special measures’.

“Since the downgrades at Wycombe Hospital, many people have suffered and neighbouring hospitals have been overwhelmed.

“Staff, patients and their loved ones deserve better.”

Ms Logan had her hand photographed and incorporated in the mosaic made last year (pictured) for the Hand Back Our Hospital campaign.

Downgrades to Wycombe Hospital started in 2005. A&E, full maternity and overnight children’s services have been removed from the town.

Stoke Mandeville and Wexham Park Hospitals are now the closest A&E units to High Wycombe.

Ozma Hafiz, Save Our Hospital campaigner, said: “The independent Commonwealth Fund report ranks our NHS as number one even though we spend less money per capita on health than our neighbours.

“Everyone deserves easily accessible, safe healthcare services. There are many ways in which distance makes a difference and it’s time that care really is ‘closer to home’.

“Lines were crossed when services were taken away from High Wycombe and underfunding is believed to be a root cause of our problems here.

“Staff, patients and their loved ones deserve better.

“The petition is designed to protect what we have and restore vital services. Downgrades and closures inevitably add pressure to neighbouring hospitals.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported the campaign so far and hope a lot of good comes from all our hard work. As ever, I’m hopeful that common sense will prevail and we’ll see a return of services here.”