The petition was signed by the Mayor of Clonmel Dennis Dunne on Wednesday morning in the Town Hall and the people of the town are asked to visit the building to sign the petition during working hours.

"Now is the time for people to stand up and fight for our hospital services. Every person in South Tipperary needs to get involved. It effects everybody," said Mayor Dunne.

The petition is also available to sign at STGH and will also be available to sign in other public buildings throughout South Tipperary over the next few weeks.

The 'Save Our Hospital' committee will open a campaign headquarters in Clonmel next Monday.

The office will be located on the corner of Mary St/O'Connell Street and the petition will also be available in the office for the public to sign.

Following a meeting of business people in the town last week, the sector has pledged to give their full support to the campaign.

Clonmel Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting for the business sector last week. As a result of the meeting a committee has been formed to enact a response from the sector.

"We see this as an attempt to downgrade the town" said Chamber President Tina Mulhearne. "The business community must stand up and be counted this time, this has huge ramifications for life in South Tipperary. The absence of 24/7 acute services will impact on our ability to attract further foreign investment to the area. Furthermore the proposed changes will lead to significant job losses which will adversely affect the economy" she added.

Brian Cleary, Chamber CEO said that the business community had risen to the challenge and were giving their full backing to the campaign.

"We have a committee that is representative of the range of industries in the area that will be impacted by the reconfiguration proposals and they are putting in a tremendous effort to make a difference" he said.