Campaigners have joined together backing calls for a medical centre’s open hours to be extended.

The supporters have joined the campaigner launched by MP Gareth Thomas to open the Alexandra Avenue polyclinic, in Rayners Lane on weekdays.

Last week the MP for Harrow West launched a petition calling for an extension to the clinic’s opening hours as a way of easing pressure on A&E services at Northwick Park Hospital.

The walk-in clinic’s opening hours were cut in 2011 from being open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, to opening only at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

Mr Thomas said: “This is a very popular clinic at weekends and people are able to be seen by a doctor or nurse in about 15 minutes, where as if they were to go to Northwick Park they would have to wait several hours.

“Services at Northwick Park are under severe pressure and there are a number of ways to help, and one of them would be extending the opening hours of this clinic.”

Asoke Dutta, 76, who lives round the corner from the clinic said: “When this was open seven days a week it was a huge benefit to the community.

“It was conveniently located and had good transport links.

“But when the hours were cut, it left a void in the area. Doctors surgeries are always booked up and you have to take two busses to get to Northwick Park and then wait hours to see anyone.

"If you want to be seen quickly there is nowhere nearby.”

So far the campaign’s petition has gained more than 1,000 signatures calling for the clinic to be open more hours in the coming winter months.

Polyclinics were introduced in London by the NHS seven years ago aiming to bridge the gap between hospitals and GP practices to offer a range of services under one roof.

Last month in the House of Commons Mr Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Heath Jeremy Hunt for more money to be made available to open centre.

Mr Hunt said he would look at the point raised by the Harrow MP.