FEARS about the threat to outpatient clinics at Devizes Community Hospital have been further fuelled this week.

Devizes GP Dr John Heaton-Renshaw said he was stunned to be told by a consultant at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, that consultant clinics at Devizes were due to end on January 5.

But the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has now revealed it was told in December 2002 that the Swindon and Marlborough Trust planned to move all clinics to Savernake Hospital in Marlborough.

Only a change in trust personnel had delayed implementation.

Health chiefs are now trying to agree a new programme of clinics.

The news closely follows recent threats to clinics provided by consultants from Bath's Royal United Hospital.

The hospital wants to change some of its outpatient clinics at community hospitals to enable its consultants to carry out more operations.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has this week announced it is planning two public consultation exercises in January on proposed changes to maternity units and consultant out-patient clinics. It will run from January 19 to April 19.

The trust will consult on plans to transfer birthing and post natal in-patient facilities from Devizes to Trowbridge and from Malmesbury to Chippenham, and on expected cuts to out-patient clinics at Devizes.

It has not yet released any information on which clinics could be axed.

It said managers were in the process of analysing all the proposals but admitted the proposals would result in a significant impact on Malmesbury Hospital.

A number of board members and members of the public present at this week's trust meeting questioned the trust's ability to carry out the consultation in the timescale agreed.

The trust is due to make a final decision on future services on April 27.

Stephen Golledge, acting joint chief executive of the trust, said it was a legal requirement for the consultation to be for three months.

He said: "The RUH wanted to implement the changes to the out-patient clinics from January 5 but we have said there should be public consultation.

The proposed changes by the RUH are in line with what the trust agreed as part of its three year plan.