A PLAN to rename one of the wards at Savernake Hospital is causing upset in Marlborough.

Generations of people have used the Ailesbury Ward, which was named to mark the donation of the land for the hospital in the 19th century by the Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury.

During the building of the new Savernake Hospital, which is due to be finished this summer, Ailesbury Ward patients have been accommodated at Devizes Hospital.

But the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is considering a new name for the ward.

Sally Cripps, a long time member and former chairman of the Friends of Savernake Hospital, said she cannot see what is wrong with the name.

She said a short-list of names that staff and patients have come up with included Willow, Bluebell, Sycamore and Chestnut.

"The name Ailesbury is well known and has local and historical connections, let's stick with what we know," she said.

Paul Lefever, chairman of the Friends of Savernake, said he thought the new names were insipid and totally uninspired. He felt Gazette readers should be canvassed for their views.

GP Dr Pam Tulloch, writing to Mrs Cripps, said: "One of the reasons for the change from Ailesbury was that staff from the old ward and the old Stroke Unit are now combined in one new unit and the new name reflects the new team, not old associations."