Hundreds of people protested cuts to X-ray and laboratory services in two Newfoundland communities.

Residents, doctors and politicians of all stripes are upset by a decision by the health department to scale back services in clinics in Lewisporte in central Newfoundland and Flower's Cove on the Northern Peninsula.

In Lewisporte on Thursday, a boisterous crowd of over 300 held signs and chanted SOS — "Save Our Services" — and booed Premier Danny Williams.

Doctors also spoke at the rally and said they toured Health Minister Paul Oram around the community a few weeks ago. They said they thought they were going to get improved health care, and not get stripped of their ability to do the job.

In Flower's Cove, people talked about the problems having to drive on the Northern Peninsula highway for two hours to St. Anthony to get services, as well as about the difficulty of driving in winter when the highway is often blocked with snow.

The mayor of St. Anthony, Boyd Noel, attended even though his community stands to gain from the reduction of services in Flower's Cove.

He said the larger communities needed to support smaller communities, and taking service away from Flower's Cove was hurting the whole area.