BEDS have reopened at the threatened Warminster Community Hospital this week while health bosses announced an increase in eye operations at Westbury.

Nine patients returned to their beds on Monday after a contract dispute closed the inpatient ward in Warminster for over a month.

But a deal struck with doctors from the Adcroft Surgery in Trowbridge has secured the out of hours cover for a further three months. The hospital also began taking admissions from Bath RUH and Salisbury District Hospital from Tuesday.

Alison Flower, senior matron at Warminster Community Hospital, said: "Some of the patients joining us now were moved out because of the closure, others are new to the hospital. The nursing staff are absolutely delighted the ward has reopened.

"Staffing is a continual problem, although we are generally able to recruit staff more readily than in some parts of the country."

But campaigners are now stepping up the fight to secure cover when the three-month agreement runs out.

Roger Davey, Unison leader at the hospital, said: "We understand they will only be opening 16 of the beds because of staff shortages in Westbury.

"They are still trying to close down our hospitals by stealth, whether it is Bradford with the condemned ward or staff shortages in Warminster."

A protest march against the closures at Warminster has been organised for June 19.

This week the West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has also announced extra cataract operations for patients at Westbury Hospital.

Visiting surgeons from Bath RUH will now treat patients in Westbury to shorten waiting times in a bid to hit government targets by November.

Eye patient Mike Nolan, 69, from Bradford, said: "There was a very relaxed atmosphere. Staff are very efficient and friendly and the patients all got well, there was a very social atmosphere in the unit.

"It was not at all clinical and this put everyone at ease."

A pilot scheme starts on May 20 to allow patients to be sent to the Bath Eye Care surgery for operations to cut down waiting times.

What do you think of health care provision in west Wiltshire? Do you want to know about the future of our hospitals and maternity units or more about waiting times or the MRSA hospital superbug? We need your questions for a one-to-one with PCT chief executive Stephen Golledge. Email questions to mattwilkinson@newswilts.co.uk, write to the Wiltshire Times, 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8EF or call (01225) 352482.