SUPPORTERS of Bradford on Avon Hospital are worried there are plans in the pipeline to cut services.

Members of the League of Friends of Bradford Hospital have bombarded West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison with letters expressing their concern that outpatient services will be cut.

Chairman of Bradford Hospital League of Friends John Cottle said: "I understand there are plans to remove all outpatient services in Bradford except for paediatrics.

"How will Trowbridge cope with an influx of people?

"With an ageing population we need more local services.

"People in my generation started working when the NHS was formed in 1948 and have paid for it all their working lives yet we are not being given the service we have actually paid for."

Plans to build a new hospital and housing on the site were given the all-clear in September 2000.

The League of Friends now wants those plans to move forward and is worried the Primary Care Trust may go back on its commitment to build a new facility.

Donna Stiles, chief executive of West Wiltshire PCT said there were a number of service reviews underway. She said: "This may affect Bradford in the future but there are no plans to close the unit.

"Some outpatient services are changing as part of a new theatre rota at the Royal United Hospital, meaning orthopaedic patients will now go there in the New Year.

"There is the potential for outpatient changes but we would have a consultation period before that.

"As regards building a new hospital, the plans were agreed years ago and they will need updating before we can move forward," she added.

West Wiltshire MP and shadow health spokesman Dr Andrew Murrison said: "Bradford Hospital is one of five community hospitals in west Wiltshire that provides a first rate service to local people and it is a model of what the health service should be striving for.

"I am fed up of hearing ministers saying they want health services provided locally while at a local level Primary Care Trusts are taking those services away.

"In Bradford we have an increasing elderly population who find travelling to Bath for hospital services very difficult so we need the town hospital more than ever before."