Controversial Chippenham GP Barney Williams has been conducting a one-man war against health service bosses which has gone to Ministerial level. SARAH SINGLETON looks at the man behind the protest.

CHIPPENHAM GP Dr Barney Williams has warned patients the battle to save his Marshfield Road Surgery, in Chippenham, must go on, despite a minor victory at a county court hearing last week.

Dr Williams came into conflict with the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Healthcare Trust because he withdrew his out-of-hours cover for patients, leaving it to make arrangements for them.

He faced the trust in the Trowbridge County Court last week following a dispute over supplying notes, and heralded the outcome as a victory and an indication he could not be taken to court over a breach of contract.

A trust spokesman said: "The PCT had commenced proceedings against Dr Williams to obtain copies of medical records held by him which were required to deal with a complaint against him.

"After the proceedings were issued Dr Williams made copies of the notes available to the trust and the only issue outstanding was that of costs."

The trust said Dr Williams sought to raise new issues and the District Judge decided the hearing should be adjourned to a later date so that a full day could be set aside.

The trust spokesman said: "In the circumstances and in the light of the fact that the cost of such a hearing would be disproportionate to the amount at stake, the PCT took the pragmatic decision to conclude the matter on the basis that no order was made for costs."

Now patients are preparing for a public meeting with the trust's chief executive Barbara Smith at St Paul's Church Hall, in Chippenham, on Wednesday at 7.30pm.

Dr Williams said: "There are issues that need resolving.

"We need to know about our funding, as the counsellor and osteopath services are not running at the surgery.

"A dispute resolution should now be followed.

"I don't know why the PCT is so determined not to talk with us. We are ready and willing to talk with the PCT about all the issues."

Dr Williams originally had an ambition to be a gardener. When he left school he was offered places at three universities, including Oxford, but decided to study at Kew Gardens for nine months, as an apprentice in the arboretum.

But before he could take up a place on a training scheme at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden, in Wisley, Woking, he was called up for National Service.

He then decided to take up a job as a teacher, which exempted him from National Service , and taught science for a year at a difficult secondary modern School near Farnborough.

He then went on to Pembroke College, Oxford, and studied zoology for a year, before taking an Honours degree in animal physiology.

He says he had a wonderful time at Oxford, learning to fly in the University Air Squadron, rowing, acting and writing.

He gained a scholarship to study pharmacology and undertook research into the structure of painkilling drugs.

He later worked at St Mary's Hospital, in London, for three years, and when short of cash, took up work as a film and theatre extra.

He even starred alongside Rudolph Nureyev as a eunuch dressed in tulle and painted gold in a production of Scheherazade.

He can also be spotted as a fireman in Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, a Luftwaffe pilot in Operation Crossbow, and a singing guest in Life At The Top and on one occasion he played poker with Honor Blackman during filming.

He returned to Oxford and worked with Professor John Stallworthy in obstetrics. It was the professor who suggested Dr Williams would find his calling in general practice.

"When I reported on patients I was always telling him more about the person, and their families, and all their issues," Dr Williams said. "So he thought I'd be better off as a GP."

In 1970 Dr Williams came to Marshfield Road Surgery. He became senior partner in 1981 but the surgery split up in 1990 after an acrimonious dispute among the partners about plans to build a new surgery on the site now taken by the Rowden surgery.

Dr Williams is still determined to keep working as a GP and said he has no plans to retire.

"I'd like to work for another nine years at least, and there's no reason why I shouldn't," he said.

"I have always loved the job and we would be heart-broken if we had to close down."