A PETITION urging Redditch MP Karen Lumley to resign and call a by-election has gathered momentum following the tragic death of Callum Cartlidge.

The eight-year-old schoolboy died of a cardiac arrest after ambulance staff were allegedly told not to take him to the Alexandra Hospital, just two minutes from his home, but 20 miles away to Worcestershire Royal instead.

The application on Change.org, set up two months ago by Neal Stote, former chairman of the disbanded Save the Alex campaign, amidst concerns for the troubled Alexandra Hospital, claims the MP misled constituents.

More than 2,200 campaigners have signed the petition, which states: "Karen Lumley has failed the people of Redditch.

"Our hospitals are in crisis with patients dying after lengthy waits in corridors, vital services being stripped and centralised services putting people at risk, and issues around bullying of staff that have never been properly resolved.

"Instead of fighting for the people of Redditch she has instead claimed the Alex has a thriving future and decried those, including her own constituents, who have tried to raise genuine concerns.

"She has failed to achieve anything to save services and deliver safe and sustainable healthcare for the people of Redditch.

"Mrs Lumley campaigned on the assertion that the Alex was saved. She misled many constituents.

"We are angry, we are disappointed and we call on Mrs Lumley to put her record to the test by resigning and fighting a by-election.

"If Mrs Lumley genuinely believes the Alex has a thriving future and she can help deliver that then she will have no problem putting that claim to the voting public so they can deliver their verdict."

Mrs Lumley, who is currently recuperating following illness, declined to comment.

To see the petition, visit change.org/p/karen-lumley-mp-karen-lumley-has-failed-the-people-of-redditch/c?source_location=petition_show.