DOCTORS from Trowbridge have been drafted in to rescue the threatened in-patient ward at Warminster Community Hospital.

An agreement with 10 doctors at the Adcroft Surgery on Wednesday will allow the ward to reopen on April 26.

The reprieve provides out of hours care for a further three months but campaigners are still calling for more guarantees on the long-term future of the hospital.

The in-patient ward was shut down last week after a dispute between West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust and GPs based at The Avenue Surgery, which is in Warminster, over out of hours cover.

Warminster's minor injuries unit will be moved to Eastleigh Surgery in Westbury while eight beds have been reopened at the closed stroke unit until the 24-hour cover arrives at the in-patient ward.

Shiena Bowen, chairman of West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, said: "I am delighted that, thanks to the Adcroft doctors, we have been able to address the problems created by the ward closure.

"The PCT is very aware of the strength of feeling in the town about its hospital facilities and has been working very hard to get the situation resolved.

"We will continue to work with doctors to ensure that a permanent contract is put in place and we are aiming to reopen the minor injuries unit as soon as we can."

Doctors from Adcroft Surgery will start work at the hospital in three weeks time and have said the deal will not affect their patients in Trowbridge.

Dr Huw Williams from the Adcroft Surgery said: "It is admittedly going to be a bit of a grapple in the dark because it is not what we are used to doing but there is full backing from all parties.

"The distance between the surgery and the hospital is only 10 miles, it is not like crossing the Gobi desert, we don't foresee any problems."

The PCT confirmed that the offer accepted by the practice is the same rejected by the doctors from The Avenue Surgery in February, which sparked the crisis. Assistant director of services, Sandy Major, denied any claims the ward crisis was the first step in moves to shut down the whole building.

She said: "This agreement at least gives us some breathing space to see if contractual arrangements work for both parties.

"If we had any intention we were going to close the building we would not have approached it in this way; this has not been a ploy to close Warminster Community Hospital.

"The PCT has always known that community hospitals are precious but this has been an example of how difficult providing health care can be."

Campaigners celebrated the breakthrough but are pledging to fight on until the future of the hospital is guaranteed.

Roger Davey, of Unison, said: "This is a victory but in the long term the future is still under threat and the last thing we are going to do is stop putting the pressure on."

Debbie Pugh-Jones, spokesman for West Wilts PCT, said: "This whole issue has come up because of the reorganisation of GPs contracts.

"There are definitely no underlying motives where we are sneakily trying to close hospitals down."

Campaigners pressure PCT

PROTESTERS staged the largest demonstration in Warminster since the Second World War in a bid to save the beleaguered hospital.

Around 500 nurses, patients and townsfolk joined forces against the closure of the in-patient ward at Warminster Community Hospital on Tuesday night.

West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust shut the ward down last week after a dispute with local GPs over 24-hour medical cover.

But the unexpected level of public opposition was praised by trade unions and threatened medical staff were overwhelmed by the town's support.

Roger Davey, of Unison, said: "I don't think the PCT has even started to grasp the level of public opposition against plans to shut ward two.

"The turnout was amazing considering we had to bring it forward an hour in short notice and the level of support the staff have got from the public is overwhelming. This display of public opinion must be listened to. It is the largest protest in Warminster since the Second World War."

Medical and ancillary staff left the wards to mingle with supporters arriving from around the town.

Pat Chudley, staff nurse on the in-patient ward, said: "Families of people we have treated and ex-patients are at this demonstration and their support means such a lot to us."

Porter Geoff Snook got a job at the hospital four years ago after nurses saved his son's life. He said: "What they did for my son was amazing so I decided to apply for a job here to give something back to the community, that is what the hospital is all about."

Protesters also circulated a petition signed by 2,000 people, which will be available in shops and businesses across the town.

Now the campaigners are planning to hold a march to keep the pressure on West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.