There's only a little bit of time left to sign our petition supporting the WI's bid to increase services at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Along with campaigners from the WI, the Folkestone & Hythe Express and KentOnline has backed the idea trying to boost healthcare available at Folkestone's hospital.

The campaign has now passed an excellent 2,000 signatures with members from several Shepway branches of the WI hunting for support.

But there is still time to sign the online petition offering your support to the proposals.

You can click here to sign up, copy the link and share it among your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

The WI is lobbying the NHS in east Kent to bring back services which were reduced after part of the old hospital building closed nearly 10 years ago.

They want to see care provision reintroduced at the same level as the newly built Buckland Hospital in Dover, which opened in July.

Residents say they are frustrated at being sent across the county for treatment at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and even the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Many elderly residents say this extremely difficult if they rely on public transport with a four-hour round trip the result of an appointment.

The Express has been told of cases where patients have even felt forced into booking themselves into overnight accommodation to make sure they get to their appointment the next morning.

The hospital site is under threat from development with a planning application submitted by the NHS still with planning officers at Shepway District Council.

It was first submitted exactly three years ago this week and is being "held in abeyance" at the request of the NHS.

You can also spread the word and ask friends, family and relatives to write a covering note and suggestions for the types of services you would like to see back in Folkestone.

Write to folkestoneexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk or Upgrade our Hospital, Folkestone & Hythe Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8JR