With reference to the idea of a larger hospital for Trowbridge, it is worth examining the proposals of another primary care trust in financial difficulties.

The Kennet and North Wilts Primary Care Trust, who also have a major financial deficit, plan to transform the Chippenham Community Hospital into a mini-general hospital, with 43 intensive rehabilitation beds, a day hospital for intermediate care and a hi-tech primary care emergency centre.

This mini-general hospital would also provide more intensive out-patient clinics and house further specialist in-patient beds for orthopaedic and neurology patients. This is for a town which is situated between two major hospitals.

Taking into account the distance from the RUH, such a mini-general hospital would make even more sense in Trowbridge, with its central location in west Wiltshire, particularly as the Devizes Hospital also looks set to close, and the 49 and 77 buses provide a regular service to the town.

With Trowbridge and district set to grow even larger than Chippenham by 2011, it would seem common sense to follow this model in the county town. It would of course have the further advantage of cutting down the number of referrals to Bath's RUH.

With Trowbridge's superior public transport links, as a main interchange point for two Trans-Wiltshire bus services and the Wessex rail link that bisects west Wiltshire, the necessary infrastructure is already in place, making such an important public facility accessible to all.

CLLR A MILROY

Town Councillor

Trowbridge.