HEALTH trust plans to develop new facilities at Malmesbury Hospital have been slammed as a farce.

Residents say the plans are merely a way of helping Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) get out of debt.

The PCT wants to build a new home for the Gable House Surgery, a 60-bed private care home, a number of close care homes and a new outpatients department.

But opponents of the scheme say the development which is earmarked for a green field site outside the town's development boundary are doubtful if it can deliver the necessary medical facilities.

The scepticism is fuelled by a lack of confirmation from the PCT on what services it would include.

A decision to go ahead with the development suffered a setback two weeks ago when North Wiltshire District Council put it back for further talks.

The council deferred the planning application amid concerns over the precise make-up of the proposed new facilities.

Members of the Malmesbury Hospital Board have been heavily involved with launching the new plans.

Board chairman John Bowen whose members include representatives from the PCT, district and county councillors and Gable House GPs said Malmesbury people strongly supported the project.

At the council meeting Mr Bowen said: "The need for a substantial care home is urgent and necessary. Health care professionals are in support of a huge care home because at the moment there is absolutely nothing."

But Diane Bowden, director of Burnham House which already provides residential care for elderly people in the town, said she was concerned whether Malmesbury could support another 60-bed care home.

She said: "We feel the information the PCT is basing their argument is flawed. The research we have done shows their numbers do not stack up. If there was an additional 60 beds at the site, we do not feel it is justified for Malmesbury. We also do not believe there is an employment market to substantiate and sustain that facility."

But Robin Clark, chairman of the League of Friends for Malmesbury Hospital and project board member, said the development was the better of two evils.

Mr Clark said: "Obviously we would prefer to keep the hospital. But we are just trying to make the best of what there is for Malmesbury. I think this development is more about the PCT getting themselves out of debt and taking away the maternity services. I am supporting the planning application to make sure the PCT gives us something."

Resident Dawn Halsey said there is no rational reason for the development to encroach on the green field site.

Mrs Halsey said: "The vast majority of people in Malmesbury think it is going to be a hospital but it will be a private care home. The public are unaware of what exactly the PCT is doing. I feel the aim of the PCT is to generate funds through privately financing the initiative and get themselves out of debt.

"We are not against the building of a new hospital in Malmesbury. Everybody needs medical facilities but this will not provide it."

Malmesbury Maternity Unit campaigner Sarah Newman, said: "I cannot see why the new development could not include a maternity unit. By scaling down the maternity unit in Malmesbury the trust think they are saving money. But the maternity services here are second to none and that could have made the new development nicer."