The trust which runs Grantham Hospital has apologised for asking A&E campaigners to leave the hospital site during their latest 'protest' gathering.

More than 40 people attended a fourth anniversary gathering yesterday to mark the day Grantham Hospital A&E stopped operating 24/7 in 2016.

Jody Clark of Fighting4Gratham Hospital told Nub News that the turnout was better than expected despite poor weather, but she was 'surprised' to be told by security that the campaigners were 'trespassing.'

Yesterday's gathering had been sited by the 'old' and disused Grantham Hospital to avoid any impact it may have on the Urgent Treatment Centre or the Covid-free 'Green' area which is delivering cancer and other treatments.

Jody said: "We had retired police present, who did insist we were breaking no laws but I did bring the gathering to a close more quickly."

She added: "We certainly didn't get moved on. But we remained polite and friendly."

Hospital campaigner Ray Wootten, a district and county councillor, and retired policeman, has written to Andrew Morgan, CEO of the United Lincolnshire Trust (ULHT) to complain about this.

He has also similarly complained to Coun Carl Macey, chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire.

Coun Wootten said that the Fighting 4 Life Lincolnshire group had staged a similar gathering at the same spot previously "which makes it even more ridiculous."

"It was a peaceful gathering. We were social distancing. I couldn't see any problems with the protest."

"We have been protesting here for four years. Nobody has told us to move on. It was a bit of an overkill."

In his letter to Mr Morgan, Coun Wootten also said: "We were standing near the old hospital opened by Lady Brownlow in 1874 whom donated the land to the people of Grantham for a hospital. I am sure that if she were alive today she would be unhappy with the Trusts actions.

"Fortunately, once it was explained to the guard that we would only be another 15 minutes, the guard walked away and observed us from a short distance."

He added: "The Trusts reputation is already at an all time low due to the overnight closure and temporary loss of A&E I would be grateful if you can reassure the people of Grantham that this kind of action will never happen again."

Coun Wootten later told Nub News that Mr Morgan responded to his letter, saying he would look into the matter and get back to him.

A ULHT spokesman told Nub News this afternoon: "We are supportive of peaceful demonstrations at our sites, we always have been and continue to be so.

"We asked our Security team to be mindful of people on the site, however there was a mis-communication yesterday involving an individual contractor working on behalf of the Trust.

"We are sorry that this resulted in the protestors being asked to leave the site. This should not have happened and we apologise for this error. We are taking steps to avoid a repetition in the future."

NOTE: Sarah Stock of Fighting for Life Lincolnshire wishes to make clear the purpose of a Friday gathering, as referred to by Coun Ray Wootten. This has been confirmed by the group's Melissa Darcey in the comments below.

Sarah said: "Last Friday, people gathered to pay their respects to Charlotte Burnett, an original admin member of Fighting 4 Grantham Hospital, who passed away last Tuesday at the age of 38.

"Various people from all campaign groups and members of the public and hospital staff, gathered to remember Charlotte.

"This was not organised by me or F4LL and was held on the path outside the front of the hospital where Charlotte used to join the Wednesday night vigil, which is also made up of various people and members of the public.

"No one lays claim to the vigil. It is a public led event."

Sarah Stock also comments: "The 2 Security Staff, whether ULHT are claiming this was a miscommunication or not, were simply doing what they were instructed to do at the time.

"They requested support from the porters, who joined them at the front of the hospital and 1 of the 3 porters made several phone calls to management to enable the protest to continue where it was, which it did and it actually ran over time, past 2.30pm and was allowed to do so.

She added: "A witness at the event has stated to me that the security staff and porters "behaved impeccably."

UPDATE: There has been much commentary about what actually went on last Sunday.

We added the comment from Sarah Stock out of fairness and to let her have her say.

Their account of what happened differed to her account.

We also note the presence of an independent observer, namely Graham Newton of the Grantham Journal.

Graham is a skilled, experienced and accurate journalist whose reporting can be trusted impeccably.

On the other side, we have Sarah Stock.

I will let you make up your own minds.