Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for the return of A&E services at Wycombe Hospital, as councillors press NHS leaders over emergency care.

Independent councillors Khalil Ahmed and Trevor Snaith raised the issue with the new chief executive of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Raghuv Bhasin, during a meeting also attended by Dr Andrew McLaren.

They said the petition shows strong local feeling and raised concerns about vulnerable residents, including elderly people and non-drivers, who may struggle to travel longer distances for urgent care.

Patients needing care at an A and E must currently travel to Stoke Mandeville, Wexham Park or Oxford hospitals – journeys that can take 30 to 45 minutes.

Raghuv Bhasin, Councillors Khalil Ahmed, Trevor Snaith and Dr Andrew McLaren Image: Khalil Ahmed

placeholder image — Raghuv Bhasin, Councillors Khalil Ahmed, Trevor Snaith and Dr Andrew McLaren Image: Khalil Ahmed

However NHS leaders said the reintroduction of a full A&E department at Wycombe Hospital is not currently under consideration. The towns A and E closed in 2005 under reforms that saw emergency care focused in larger hospitals.

They added that decisions about A&E provision are made by the Integrated Care Board using population modelling and national NHS guidance.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Khalil Ahmed said: “Nearly 10,000 residents have already signed our petition calling for the return of A&E services to Wycombe, which clearly shows how strongly people in our community feel about access to emergency care.

“While we welcome the discussion with the trust, we will continue to push for the concerns of Wycombe residents to be heard as the rapid review of urgent and emergency care takes place.”

Councillors also raised concerns about pressure on the system, particularly with significant housing growth planned across the county.

Trust representatives acknowledged that population growth could place pressure on health services and stressed the need for infrastructure to keep pace with development.

They said work is underway to strengthen services at Wycombe Hospital, including reviewing the Urgent Treatment Centre and expanding neighbourhood care with GP practices.

The discussion comes as Buckinghamshire Council’s health and adult social care select committee begins a rapid review of urgent and emergency care across the county, examining how services have changed between 2005 and 2025. Trust leaders said they would support the review.

Cllr Trevor Snaith added: “The health & adult social care select committee is now carrying out an important rapid review of emergency care provision across the county, looking at issues such as travel times, patient access and system pressures. It is vital that the voices of local residents are part of that conversation.”

Both councillors are urging residents to keep signing the petition to ensure access to emergency care in Wycombe remains a key issue.