ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – Orlando Health recently announced that it will close Rockledge Hospital, citing years of facility neglect and costly repairs.

Martyn Hobbs says one of the main reasons she and her family moved right across the street from the Rockledge hospital was to be close to the facility.

“My daughter choked on a crab leg shell and we ran right across to have them look at it. They had to keep her overnight,” Martyn Hobbs said.

The hospital is also a reason her mother-in-law, Sarah Hobbs, lives right around the corner.

“I have a grandchild so it’s nice to know if there is anything, because kids fall or whatever, it’s nice to know that it’s just there,” Sarah Hobbs explained.

That’s why more than 1,400 people have signed this petition in hopes to prevent losing the hospital after Orlando Health announced last month they will shut the hospital down.

Petition creator Chris D’Andrea said even though the petition signatures may not stop the closure, he hopes it will push Orlando Health to place a temporary ER and other medical services in the area.

“We’re just asking not to be forgotten. You know a new facility might take three to four years in for Cocoa and Rockledge residents—to not have emergency facility or emergency care for all that time it’s gonna be problematic,” D’Andrea said.

The hospital group said the hospital was in poor condition and “determined that the cost to repair and renovate Rockledge Hospital far exceeds the cost of a new, state-of-the-art hospital.”

They also sent out a notice saying that 940 workers will be affected.

“I think it’s crazy for the fact that now for us here the nearest hospital was either Cape Canaveral or all the way over in Viera,” Sarah Hobbs said.

In a statement, Orlando Health said staff members in good standing and open to taking jobs at other Orlando Health locations are guaranteed positions within the organization.

“I know personally a few people in my life who work in the Orlando hospital. They drive an hour, hour and a half sometimes to get there, and if you’re an overnight worker or you know you have long shifts, you’re not going to wanna make that drive,” Martyn Hobbs said.

D’Andrea said they’re hoping to get 10,000 signatures to show Orlando Health that people in Rockledge need their help.

“We’re losing almost 300 beds with this Rockledge hospital shut down. Whether they can create an emergency facility that has 30 or 50 beds, just something to fill the gap while they’re enacting this process,” D’Andrea said.

In a statement, Orlando Health also said they plan to build a new facility in Brevard County, but they have not announced where that will be yet.

Orlando Health acquired the hospital last year after the previous owner filed for bankruptcy protection.