WHEN Michael Lloyd, 76, took on the NHS at the high court in London, he had to prove that he had ‘legal standing.’ He had to show that he – in his own words – ‘was not a busybody who liked to complain.’ "My lawyers had to show the community was behind me but that was not hard to do because of the press coverage and photographs of campaigners protesting outside Stroud Hospital," said Mr Lloyd, who also had to raise a £7,500 community contribution through donations to prove he had support.

"I also needed to show that I had a personal interest in the case and as had I spent five weeks at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital last year with pneumonia, before being moved to Cirencester Hospital for a further two months, it was not difficult to demonstrate."

Mr Lloyd was only able to take on NHS Gloucestershire with the help of legal aid funding.

But now all costs including the £7,500 community contribution will be covered by the PCT.

"It was a great result but a shame it could not have happened without going to court," Mr Lloyd, who first came to Stroud in 1979 when convalescing at More Hall Care Home in Paganhill.

"We were always open to negotiation but the PCT dug its heels in, resulting in it having to go back to the drawing board."

Stroud mayor John Marjoram said it was a great victory for the campaigners and an opportunity to write to the trust urging managers to retain services within the NHS.