Thousands of patients have been left in the dark about the future of their GP surgery now the Department of Health has ruled Dr Barney Williams should be sacked at midnight on January 30.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has refused to confirm or deny the possibility of the closure of the surgery in just a few weeks' time and has declined to explain what contingency plans are in place to take care of the surgery's 3,500 patients if the contract is ended.

"What we want to know is what is going to happen to us," said Cedric Norton, chairman of the Friends of Marshfield Road Surgery.

"Every time the PCT says they have contingency plans but they have never told us what they are."

The dispute blew up in September 2002 when Dr Williams, then 63, stated that as a single practitioner he was unable to provide out of hours care for his patients.

He was not allowed to join the co-operative for out of hours care set up by other GPs and could not find other locums to do the work and believed the 365/24 service was impossible for him to meet at an acceptable standard.

The Department of Health appointed Dr Richard Ough to investigate whether the PCT had the right to close Dr Williams' contract as a consequence of his refusal of provide out of hours care. Just before Christmas, Dr Ough found the trust did have the right to close the contract and recommended it should be terminated at midnight on January 30.

Following the ruling PCT chief executive Stephen Golledge said: "We are in contact with Dr Williams and await his proposals."

The trust declined to say whether the contract would be ended and now patients have demanded a meeting with Dr Williams to find out about the future of their healthcare.

A statement from Dr Williams said: "Sadly a now 64-year-old Dr Williams, with no help, is still unable to offer to work safely 24 hours per day. Without any support he cannot find others to do this work either.

"It would be the dearest wish of Dr Williams and all his colleagues at Marshfield Road Surgery to continue the service they have given to Chippenham for so many years. For the sake of all their patients they are still making every effort to find a way forward in this situation."

The Friends organisation has invited Dr Williams to a meeting at Sheldon School Hall on Tuesday at 8pm in a bid to find out more about the future of the surgery.

"We want to know more about the possible closure. It's a concern for 3,500 patients," said Mr Norton.

"It is so silly when we have a shortage of doctors in the UK to try and close somebody down.

"We are going to ask Dr Williams what is going on. We have had this on our plate for far too long."

Patient Jean Dummett, who has been registered with the surgery since 1966, said: "I think it is an absolute disgrace. There is no other surgery list open.

"I am anxious to know what the contingency plans are."

Staff at the surgery are fearful they could be out of a job by the end of the month.

"I am devastated," said assistant practice manager Liz Salter, who has worked part time at the surgery for five years.

"The PCT could have done far more to help us.

"The effect on the Chippenham population would be dreadful."

Practice nurse Bridget Holland said: "It's going to cause enormous problems for our patients," she said.

"I'm going to be out of a job in a couple of weeks. I think the PCT has failed Dr Williams, the patients and the staff.

"I just feel they wanted him out."

North Wiltshire MP James Gray said a constituent had raised concerns about the possible loss of Dr Williams at an MP surgery in Chippenham on Saturday and he had written to the PCT to find out what was happening.

He said the legal dispute between Dr Williams and the DoH was not a matter for him to comment on but he was very concerned about the healthcare provision for his constituents.

"If the surgery is going to close we need to know, and with some urgency, what plans they are making to look after patients," he said.

"We need to know if it is closing, why it is closing, and if this is the case, what contingency arrangements are being made to look after the patients."

The PCT declined to make any further comment on the situation despite repeated requests by the Gazette for information.

A spokesman from the Department of Health referred the Gazette to the Strategic Health Authority, where a spokesman said they could not comment on the matter.