Malcolm Wright, of The Grove, Seamer, launched the petition after his wife Caroline was affected by service cuts due to staff shortages.

The unit, in the grounds of Scarborough Hospital, used to open until 9pm but now only operates from 7am to 6pm.

Mum-of-two Mrs Wright has been going to the unit for dialysis three times a week since suffering kidney failure three and a half years ago.

Her husband, a police officer, has had to negotiate a part-time contract to allow him to look after her and their children, Steven, seven, and Andrew, 13.

Mr Wright, 44, said: “I would like people who believe in this cause to support it. I just don’t believe those running the unit are looking at people’s needs.”

One Scarborough resident who has come forward to support Mr and Mrs Wright is former dialysis patient Jim Sloan, of Scalby.

He was a patient at the unit for almost four years before getting a transplant in May last year and used to attend “twilight” sessions.

Mr Sloan, 58, said: “People need this treatment to stay alive and taking away the later sessions is like stripping away some of your rights.

“I’m in full support of people being able to go when they need to go.”

The part-time financial director added that dialysis is a time-consming procedure, which takes about 12 hours a week.

He said that an evening service until 9pm was “vital” for him to enable him to continue working and supporting his family.

Mr Wright has submitted a formal complaint to Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the unit with health company Fresenius.

A letter of reply from Sue Flintham, regional manager of Fresenius, states: “It will always be difficult to promise any long-term specific dialysis session, because this service does need to be flexible to meet the needs of all patients we service.”

However, she offered to meet the couple to discuss Mrs Wright’s ongoing care.

l If you would like to sign Mr Wright’s online petition, go to www.nhscuts.org.uk and click on the link. The deadline is April 19 and at the time of going to press there were 337 signatures.