NHS chiefs have voted unanimously to close Cheltenham General Hospital's emergency department to critically ill patients at night.
At a meeting of Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (GCCG) this afternoon, all members agreed to press ahead with proposals to take critically ill patients from Cheltenham to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester between 8pm and 8am.
This means Cheltenham's A&E would treat only the walking wounded, with 999 ambulance calls taken to Gloucester.
The change is due to start from next month.
Health campaigners, Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood and Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce have all opposed the plan.
Protesters voiced their opposition to the "downgrade" of the A&E before the meeting in Brockworth today.
NHS bosses say the changes are necessary because there could be less emergency department doctors in the county from August as many would be compulsorily placed elsewhere in the country for training.
Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce may now seek a Judicial Review into the decision.
Michael Ratcliffe, Chief Executive of the chamber said: "Both Cheltenham and Gloucester have large and growing populations which require fully staffed A&E Departments. The fact that A&E waiting times at Gloucester are already longer than those at Cheltenham demonstrates that we need fully staffed A&E Departments in both locations."
"We are most concerned that this could be the thin end of the wedge and that this proposed diversion of Emergency Ambulances will lead to the gradual reduction of the A&E services at Cheltenham General Hospital."
