HEALTH chiefs have dismissed claims a massive debt could threaten the level and quality of medical services in north and west Wiltshire.

Last week North Bristol NHS Trust announced an end of year deficit of £44.3m, heightening fears the crisis could throw the region's primary health care trusts into turmoil.

To help the government claw back some of the cash Nick Westbrook, chief officer of health watchdog the Bath and District Community Health Council, fears they could be left with bills of around £1m each.

But a spokesman for the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority said it was up to the Bristol NHS Trust to sort out its own debts, and they would not dip into resources further afield.

"I think it is a problem for the Bristol NHS Trust itself which it needs to address as a matter of some urgency," she said.

"The measures the trust takes will largely affect the trust itself and the PCTs in the Bristol area which commission services from it."

Mr Westbrook is adamant the debt could jeopardise plans to shake-up health care services in Wiltshire which are currently being reviewed after an extensive period of public consultation.

He said: "This could be catastrophic for the trusts.

"West Wiltshire PCT is already struggling with a deficit and has cut its budget by four per cent this could be the straw which breaks the camel's back.

"It could affect all services, including community hospitals, out of hours services and a range of clinics."

The full implications of the multi-million pound debt may not be known until a community health care meeting at the end of the month.

But Mr Westbrook expects an emergency meeting to be called over the coming weeks.

He said: "We don't know what the worst possible scenario will be yet, but clearly cuts would be unpopular with patients."

In the last 24 months, West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has managed to reduce its debts by around £8m, and is hoping to use any available resources to finance new proposals which come out of the service review.

These could include cutting the number of 24-hour casualty units from three to one and introducing specialised clinics at the five hospitals.

The Bristol NHS trust has now appointed consultants to undertake an immediate review of finances.

One of the city's main hospitals, Southmead or Frenchay, could lose its accident and emergency facilities in a cost-cutting measure.

On Tuesday, Professor Phyllida Parsloe, the chairman of the debt-ridden trust, resigned.

Responding to the announcement, the strategic health authority said they respected her decision.

Health authority chair Anthea Millett said: "North Bristol NHS Trust now needs to move on.

"The independent investigation comm-issioned by the strategic health authority should help this considerably."