Organisers were disappointed only 300 people braved the weather in Chertsey to march against proposed health cuts on Saturday.

The rally was organised to protest against planned cuts to emergency services at St Peter's Hospital and The Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford.

The poor turn-out was blamed on the weather as well as differing media reports on where the protest was to start.

Mick Moriarty, Unison south-east Region, said the rally did serve a purpose.

He said: "We got the message across to people. Their neighbours and friends must be involved in the consultation.

The authorities are not obliged to pay notice to public opinion but they must take notice of the consultation process."

Ian Taylor, MP for Esher and Walton, said: "The local NHS is in the worst crisis I can recall in nearly 20 years as an MP.

"Like many others, I am campaigning to save NHS services in Surrey and to preserve the number of accident and emergency centres, including at St. Peter's Hospital."

Mr Moriarty said that Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) now needed to release the proposals for changes in healthcare.

The plans were due to go to public consultation in November but were delayed.

They are now likely to be released in January or February.

Mr Moriarty said: "People are worried about the uncertainty. The PCT need to present the facts and get on with it."