The health body which runs Macclesfield Hospital has denied claims by council leader Michael Jones that A&E is under threat.
The councillor called on guests at the Make It Macclesfield Business Breakfast to back the hospital and help protect services.
He said: “There are talks about us losing our A&E. If we lose our A&E, we lose our hospital.
“And Cheshire East is 100 per cent against that.”
It came after MP David Rutley asked people to get behind the bid for Foundation Trust status – hoped to protect the hospital from future threats to services.
He said after the meeting: “It’s vitally important that residents get involved in the consultation for Foundation Trust which will give it greater say over its future and what services are provided locally, including A & E.”
After the business breakfast coun Jones told the Express he has serious concerns about A & E.
He said: “It’s a rumour I’ve heard and I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I wasn’t worried.
“There’s a suggestion that Macclesfield will merge with Stepping Hill and Wythenshawe Hospital and if that happens they may make savings to the detriment of Macclesfield.
“Macclesfield needs a good A&E and we are serious about making sure it’s safe.
“I think it’s great they become a Foundation Trust but it’s how they become a trust which is important.”
But a trust spokesman has said there is no threat to A&E and its future is not related to Foundation Trust status.
The trust said it is not merging with University Hospital South Manchester which runs Wythenshawe and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust which runs Stepping Hill, but it did sign an agreement earlier this year to collaborate more.
John Wilbraham, chief executive, said: “While our organisation will become a new entity as a foundation trust we will still be providing high quality services for those that need them be that in the A&E, on our wards or in people’s homes.”
Any threat to services is likely to be met with opposition across Macclesfield, after our Hands off our Hospital Campaign in 2006 attracted 60,000 signatures against cuts to children’s and maternity services.