GP Dr Barney WilliamsGAZETTE & HERALD: Important medical mail containing test results, consultants' and patient letters is piling up at Chippenham's Marshfield Road Surgery because health officials have stopped collecting the post.

The surgery, now running as a private practice, has declined to forward the mail using envelopes and stamps provided by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

This is because sacked GP Dr Barney Williams and practice manager Avril Williams fear it would endanger confidentiality and because they are no longer on an NHS contract and do not wish to carry out PCT administration work unpaid.

A large pile dating back to March 3 was handed over to Stephen Golledge, acting chief executive of the PCT, by Cedric Norton, the chairman of the Friends of Marshfield Surgery, at a meeting in Chippenham on Monday but the post is accumulating again.

Patient Judith Reeve said: "I think it's totally disgusting they (the PCT) are not forwarding mail so even if I do go to another doctor they won't have the full notes. It's ridiculous.

"I will not allow my notes to go anywhere else. I am holding out at the moment against their blackmail but I am disabled though it is getting difficult. I need medication to keep me going it's that or die."

Around 100 patients gathered at a public meeting organised by Dr and Mrs Williams at Sheldon School on Tuesday. Many people signed a vote of no confidence in the PCT and wrote down a raft of questions to put to Mr Golledge when he attends another public meeting, scheduled for April 20 at Sheldon School.

Dr Williams, whose NHS contract was ended when he declined responsibility for the out of hours care of his 3,500 patients, said he was amazed at the momentum of the protest.

And he responded angrily to letters sent out to patients by the PCT warning them they would not be able to access NHS services if they would not allow their notes to be sent to another GP practice.