The final signature was added yesterday by David Akele, a 27-year-old from Corrimal who was a patient at the hospital, for a concussion, five years ago.

Mr Akele said he waited half-an-hour for treatment at 9.30pm and that the experience compared well to Wollongong Hospital, where he once waited four hours with a stomach complaint.

"It was just disgusting that in its 119-year history Bulli Hospital needed the signatures of 10,000 residents to get its matter heard before the State Parliament," Mr Akele said.

"This should send a clear message to the Health Minister that the community wants Bulli Hospital to remain open for the benefit of non-surgical emergencies."

The petition was circulated by Member for Keira Ryan Park, who will lodge it on May 1.

Mr Park is calling for a 24-hour emergency department with capabilities for all but life-threatening cases, extra geriatric services and geriatric care, restored orthopaedic services, physiotherapy and dental, at an estimated cost of $10 million.

"The support that this petition has received is reflective of the great need residents have for Bulli to remain a fully functioning hospital," Mr Park said.

"I've made it clear I don't think that this issue has been handled well by the previous [Labor] government. The reality is, this Government made promises about making sure services here would be stronger and improved."

Residents interested in the future of the hospital attended a public meeting last month with Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District board chairman Professor Dennis King.

Prof King said the board had since commissioned a health services review and had delivered all resident feedback to consultants.

"When they come back with their recommendations, we plan to have another public forum to discuss them," he said..