The Government risks losing votes at the next election because of the unpopular closure of cottage hospitals in the face of fierce local opposition, ministers have been warned.

Despite an announcement of a £750 million cash boost for local hospitals, campaigners said community facilities were actually being drained of money, with a series of cuts and threats to beds, wards and entire centres.

Campaigns against cottage and community unit closures are raging in several areas, including Gloucestershire, North Wales, Cornwall, Northern Ireland and Cheshire.

Ten community hospitals have already closed this year and a further 70 are under threat of cuts or closures, according to campaigners. Huge local campaigns have been launched to save services, often without success, such as in Denbighshire, North Wales, where a porter staged a rooftop protest.

Karen Jennings, head of health at Unison, said: "The decision to close many cottage hospitals across the country is driven by panic rather than patient need.

"The relentless pressure on NHS Trusts to clear deficits is creating a perverse situation which goes against the Government's goal of providing more community based services.

"These closures are extremely unpopular among local people and potentially a vote loser."

The Government said earlier this month that a new generation of community hospitals moved a "big step" closer after the announcement of the extra funding.