THE Wiltshire Times has handed in a 1,685-name petition calling for 24 beds at a community hospital to be saved.

Half the inpatient beds at Melksham Hospital have already been axed, with the remaining 12 set to close next month, after two GPs ended their contracts with the primary care trust in a dispute over funding.

In three months the Wiltshire' Times' Save Our Hospital Beds campaign attracted widespread support from patients, councillors and West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison.

We handed in the petitions on Wednesday at West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust's headquarters on the White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge, with a letter urging health chiefs to sit up and take notice.

Carol Clarke, PCT chief executive, thanked our readers for their efforts and said their concerns would be incorporated into a review of health services, due to be launched yesterday.

In a statement, Mrs Clarke, who is also chief executive for the Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT, said: "I would like to thank the Wiltshire Times and its readers for recognising the issue of needing to have appropriate medical support for inpatients at Melksham Hospital.

"The response from your readers will inform the work we are doing to resolve the difficulties faced by the PCT in securing medical cover."

The PCT is in negotiations with GP body the Wiltshire Local Medical Committee to look at GP contracts at community hospitals across both trusts.

Problems arose after Dr Rob Matthews, of Spa Medical Centre and Dr James Hill, of Giffords Surgery, decided they could no longer provide care for the 24-bed unit. Dr Hill likened the contract to charity work.

Wiltshire Times editor Andy Sambidge said he hoped the petition demonstrated the strength of public feeling.

"Throughout the campaign we have been hearing how important community hospitals are to the people of west Wiltshire," he said.

"It is important for all of them to be used at full capacity, to ensure healthcare is delivered locally.

"The PCT has the chance to secure the long term future of our hospitals. It is time for the service cutbacks to stop."

Melksham mayor Cllr Margaret White, who worked in Melksham Hospital for 24 years, said: "I just hope it gives the message to the PCT that the hospital and the facilities are very important to the Melksham people.

West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison, a shadow health minister, said: "I am very pleased with the Wiltshire Times for mounting this campaign.

"The number of signatures on the petition reflects public concern over this issue."

On Monday Melksham town councillors called for a public meeting on the hospital's future to be arranged as soon as possible.