People protesting plans to cut X-ray and lab services in the community of Lewisporte came to praise their member of the house of assembly at a rally Thursday after he had vowed to help them fight the cuts by his own Conservative government.

But cheers quickly turned to jeers when Wade Verge denied he ever said that he would fight his own government.

"I did not say, as this reporter indicated, I did not say that I was defying my own government," Verge said, singling out a CBC News reporter in the crowd.

His earlier statement had been recorded, and he had said: "I have to stand with the people on this issue, and ask for reconsideration of this plan. It's funny, I don't see it as standing up against my government, when government has made a decision here that I'm not in support of."

Verge then told the crowd he supports them but he also supports his government. After all, Verge said, Lewisporte is getting a multimillion-dollar long-term care facility.

The crowd booed Verge until he left the podium.

"Wade Verge acted like a sniveling coward, in my opinion, who couldn't support his people on an issue for more than 24 hours," said Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones, who was also at the rally.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael said the confusion could have been cleared up easily if the government hadn't abandoned its practice of using briefing notes.

"Well, if Mr. Verge was briefed, as the premier said, did those who briefed him use briefing notes? And maybe they should have used briefing notes, because then he would have clearly had in writing what they meant," she said.

Closing down the services in Lewisporte will mean patients will have to travel to Gander or Grand Falls-Windsor for lab tests or X-rays.

The community of Flower's Cove also held a rally to protest the cuts. Residents there face the prospect of having to drive on the Northern Peninsula highway for two hours to St. Anthony to get services.

"It's bad enough in summer," said Gerry Gross, mayor of Anchor Point, just south of Flower's Cove.

"Winter travel is at best treacherous around here. Instead of improving services, we're getting a reduction in services," he said.

Doctor issues warning

Among the protesters in Flower's Cove was longtime resident Dr. Vivien Pealing.

"If this place closes down its emergency care there will be deaths. There will be patients who will not be able to get emergency treatment," Pealing said.

"There's no way we can survive, or our seniors survive, having to go to St. Anthony. We don't have the money to do it," said Judy Way, executive director of the Chronic Care Corp. in Flower's Cove.

That long drive from Flower's Cove will bring more people to St. Anthony.

The mayor of St. Anthony doesn't like the cuts here either.

"If we didn't have the Flower's Coves, etc., there'd be no St. Anthony. So I'm offering support to keep them alive," said Mayor Boyd Noel.

Health minister says decision final

On Friday, Health Minister Paul Oram issued his response to protests over his plan to cut services.

"My decision's final. I've said that from the beginning," he said.

Oram said it's time to put the loss of X-ray and laboratory services into perspective.

He wants people to think about how often they'll drive an hour for basic errands such as shopping.

"I think that the price to pay, to leave the area and go to Gander or Grand Falls just to have an X-ray, I would suggest is very, very small compared to the government's commitment to build a new long-term care facility in that community," Oram said.

He also indicated there will be more cuts to other clinics.