Within the first 48 hours almost 1000 people signed a petition on the island of Skye expressing deep concern over plans to reorganise hospital provision on the island, according to campaigners.

It follows the Scottish Government's approval in February of NHS Highland's plans to build a new £15m hospital in Broadford. It continues to divide local opinion.

There are two small hospitals on Skye. The 20 bed Dr MacKinnon Memorial Hospital in Broadford and the 12 bed Portree Hospital which has the local GP practice in it.

NHS Highland consulted on a model of provision would see in-patient beds in a "hub" hospital and other services in a "spoke" facility. Broadford was subsequently chosen as the location for the hub, 25 miles to the south of Portree where the spoke facility is to be established.

According to the SOS NHS Skye campaign group the removal of beds and emergency care from the main settlement of Portree is causing major concern so the petition calls on the Scottish Government to establish an Independent Scrutiny Panel of experts to look carefully at what the island needs.

The panels were introduced by the Scottish Government to consider proposals for major changes in local NHS services in Scotland. Three were set up to look at changes in the NHS in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, the Clyde area, and in Dumfries & Galloway.

But requests for one to consider Skye, have been resisted by the Health Minister Shona Robison.

An SOS NHS Skye spokesman said "The establishment of an Independent Scrutiny Panel seems like a natural thing to do in what is a deeply contentious situation, even NHS Highland suggested it a couple of years ago. We don't see any reason not to if there is nothing to hide and we would be very surprised if local politicians did not back us in this request."

However a Scottish Government spokeswoman said there had been a compelling case that locating the new hospital in Broadford.

"This was subject to wide ranging scrutiny, with considerable input from the people of Skye, during the consultation process."

"It is now important to move forward and ensure the plans put forward by NHS Highland provide the best possible services for the people of Skye. On that basis, the Health Secretary has asked NHS Highland to ensure that all local stakeholders continue to be kept fully informed and involved in the ongoing development and delivery of these services."

Meanwhile a spokeswoman for NHS Highland insisted claims that accident/emergency care was to be removed from Portree were wrong. "We cannot stress this enough: access (opening hours) to minor injury, illness and emergency-type care in Portree is not changing." She said it wasn't 24/7 at present and added "If it is safe and appropriate for someone to go to Portree they will continue to do so. "