In the latest sign of public opposition to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's beleaguered NHS reforms the e-petition has been attracting signatures at a rate of more than 1,000 an hour.

By 10.30pm on Tuesday night it had reached the 100,000 signatures to trigger parliamentary attention and was continuing to grow. It will now be considered for debate in the Commons by the Backbench Business Committee.

The petition was tabled by GP Kailash Chand.

Despite anger from health professionals and patient groups alongside private criticism of the Bill by Tory Cabinet ministers Prime Minister David Cameron is pressing ahead with the legislation.

But shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the petition's signatories had "sent a very clear message" that the government should scrap the Bill.

"They want him to listen and stop putting his political pride before the best interests of the NHS," he said.